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6 

I 


The  Battle  with  the  Eagle. 


WINTER  ADVENTURES 

OF  THREE  BOYS 

IN  THE  GREAT  LONE  LAND 


BY 


EGERTON  R.  YOUNG 

Author  op  "Bv  Canok  and  Doq-train,"  "Thrkk  Boys  in  thk  Wild 

North  Land,"  etc. 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  FROM  DRAWINGS  BY 
J.   E.  LAUGHLIN,  AND  FROM  PHOTOGRAPHS 


"  The  V   '  -<s  ot  memoiy  s^e  the  dreams  of  jrouth  ; 
And  fancy  weaves  garlands  of  flowers  of  truth." 

-E.  R.  Y.,  Jr. 


J 


NEW  YORK:  EATON  &  MAINS. 
CINCINNATI :  JENNINGS  &  PYE. 


7  O  i  (c  Avi. 


149458 


c)6/AV(?,     ^-^ 


Copyright  by 

EATON  &  MAINS, 

1899. 


Eaton  &  Mains  Press, 
«5o  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 


.'I 


EXPLANATORY. 


This  book  of  Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 
in  the  Great  Lone  Land  follows  the  one  entitled 
Three  Boys  in  the  Wild  North  Land.  In  the  pre- 
vious volume  the  stories  were  those  of  the  Summer 
and  Fall.  In  -nis  book  they  are  of  the  Winter  and 
Spring.    Each  volume  is  complete  in  itself. 

In  sending  out  this  volume  the  author  is  pro- 
foundly thankful  to  the  indulgent  reviewers  who 
had  so  many  kind  words  to  say  about  the  first  book. 
In  about  the  only  adverse  criticism  that  we  saw,  and 
which  was  kindly  written,  the  reviewer  seemed  to 
think  it  strange  that  boys  could  have  such  a  jolly 
time  with  a  lot  of  Christian  Indians  as  we  had 
described.  He  rightly  stated  that  boys*  ideas  of 
Indians  were  associated  with  the  tomahawk  and  the 
scalping  knife,  and  that  they  had  the  impression  that 
the  only  good  time  they  could  have  among  them  was 
when  the  blood-curdling  war-whoops  were  heard 
and  the  redskins  were  being  shot  down  by  adventur- 
ous lads  led  on  by  cowboys.  There  has  been  alto- 
gether too  many  of  these  false  and  erroneous  ideas 


Explanatory 

about  the  Indians  circulated.    Such  things  are  now 

impossibilities. 

In  these  volumes  we  have  given  the  correct  idea 

of  the  Indian  as  he  is  to-day  in  regions  where  for 

years  we  lived.     The  Gospel  has  transformed  his 

once  cruel  nature,  but  has  not  marred  his  cleverness 

and  skill  as  a  hunter  or  a  guide.    The  brief  glimpses 

into  his  religious  life  are  absolutely  true,  and  the 

insertion  of  them  will,  we  trust,  not  weaken,  but 

rather  strengthen  the  book. 

6 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Sagasta-wcekee — A  Happy  Home  in  the  Great  Lone  Land- 
Three  Boys  there  Welcomed — The  Sudden  Coming  of  Winter 
— Various  Sporis  Discussed — Hunah  for  the  Dogs!— Useful 
Animals — Dog- whips — Kinesasis,  the  Dog-keeper.    .        •     13 

CHAPTER  n. 

Bringing  Home  the  Dogs — The  Thin  Ice — Method  of  Cross- 
ing Dangerous  Peaces — The  Dogs'  Summer  Home — The 
Return  Trip— The  Unexpected  Goose  Hunt— The  Saucy  Fox — 
Kinesasis's  Question — "Why  do  the  Geese  go  to  the  South 
Land?" 24 

CHAPTER  HL 

Selecting  Their  Dogs— Various  Methods  of  Breaking  Them 
In — Frank's  Success  by  Kindness  with  Monarch — Sam's 
Troubles  with  Spitfire — Conquered  at  Last — Training  and  Cap- 
turing Dogs  with  Dogs — Alec's  Train  of  Part  Staghounds.    37 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Numerous  Dogs — Useful  Animals — Food  Supply— Frozen 
Fish — Bringing  Them  Home — Vigorous  Work  for  Boys  and 
Doflfs — Frank's  Tumble — Sam's  Ducking — Skating  Parties — 
Alec's  Thrilling  Adventure — The  Race  for  Life — Northern 
Gray  Wolves — Vheir  Cunning — Their  Various  Stratagems- 
Mr.  Ross  Fear);— The  Search  Party — Alec  Rescued — fhc 
Wolves  Shot 52 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Invitation  to  the  Indian  School  Examination  and  Sports 
— Trapping  Experiences — The  Cunning  Cross  Fox — Frank 
Seeking  Aid  from  Memotas — Method  of  Successful  Trap- 
setting— Toyous  Trip  to  the  Mission — An  Abiding  Christian 

7 


Contents 


Civilization  for  the  Indians— Sam's  and  a  Young  Indian's  Novel 
Hunting  Methods — Wild- cats  Captured — The  Queer  Battle 
Between  ■».  Fox  and  a  Wild  Cat.       .         .         .         .         .71 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Winter  Birds  of  the  Great  Lone  Land— The  Whisky 
Jack — The  Ptarmigan — Their  Beds  in  the  Snow — Mission 
Visits — Cupid's  Darts — The  Wood  Supply — Primitive  Way  of 
Capturing  Partridges — Great  Snowy  Owls — Methods  of  Cap- 
ture— Sam's    Experience — The    Fearful    Grip    of    the    Owl's 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Wounds  from  Claws  versus  Teeth  Discussed — Mr.  Ross's 
Story  of  the  Battle  with  the  Eagles — Their  Mountain  Eyrie — 
Their  Hunting  Skill — Their  Voracity — The  Eaglets — The  Con- 
flict— The  Result — The  Painful  Wounds.        .         .         .   loi 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Sundays  in  the  Great  Lone  Land — Services  at  the  Mission — 
By  Skiff  or  Canoe  in  Summer — By  Dog-train  in  Winter — 
Napoleon,  the  Tame  Bear,  and  His  Load — Services  at  Sagasta- 
weekee — Missionary*  Journeys — Native  Ministers — The  Queer 
Sermon — Happy  Christmas  Times — New  Year's,  the  Great 
Day — Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou,  the  Kissing  Day — Varied  Experi- 
ences— The  Great  Feast — Happy  Indians — Thanksgiving,  no 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Indian  School  Examinations — The  Prizes — Noble  In- 
dian Boys — The  Skates  to  Kepastick — The  Various  Sports — 
Foot  Races — The  Skating  Race — Tricky  Clerk  Outwitted — 
Frank  and  Kepastick  Tie  as  Winners — Football — Hockey.  127 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Great  Race  with  the  Dog-trains — Careful  Preparations 
by  Alec — The  Diflferent  Breathing  Places — The  Treacherous 
Half-breeds — Their  Signal  Failure — Alec's  Triumph.       .   138 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Pasche  Disappears — The  Search — Big  Tom  and  Mustagan — 

The  Whisky  Jacks — Pasche  Found  in  a  Hollow  Tree — Chased 

8 


CONTKNTS 

by  an  Angry  Moose  Bull— Pasche  Rescued— His  Quaint  Ac- 
count of  His  Adventures.       ......   148 

CHAPTER  XH. 

Kines&sis's  Wonderful  Story — How  He  Wooed  Shakoona — 
Their  Youthful  Days — Miskoodell  Rescued  from  the  Bear — 
Oosahmekoo  with  His  Gold — KinesasisV  Successful  Hunt — 
His  Furs  Stolen — Marries  Shakoona — Conflict  with  the  Old 
Warrior.       .........   161 

CHAPTER  Xni. 
Comments  on  Kinesasis's  Wonderful  Story — The  Pack  of 
Furs  Recovered — Honesty  of  Indians — Their  Different  Hunt- 
ing Grounds — The  Golden  Rule — The  Dishonest  Foreign  In- 
dian— His  Sudden  Death 177 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Home  Amusements  and  Studies — Happy  Days  at  Sagasta- 
weekee — Stories  of  the  Early  Hunters — Methods  of  Hunting 
Before  the  Introduction  of  Firearms — Wolves  More  Dreaded 
Then — Story  of  Two  of  Kinesasis's  Children — Killed  by 
Wolves — Shakoona's  Sorrow — Saved  by  the  Caresses  of  Little 
Children 185 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Beavers,  and  Something  About  Them — ^Two  Hunters  at 
Sagasta-weekee — A  General  Invitation  to  a  Beaver  Hunt  Ac- 
cepted— The  Preparations — The  Trip — Dog-traveling  in  the 
Woods — Sau  y  Wild  Animals — The  Wolf's  Cove — The  Boys' 
Plunge  in  the  Snowdrift — The  Rescue.   .         .         .         .194 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Still  on  the  Way  to  the  Beaver  House — The  Winter  Camp  in 
the  Woods — Work  for  All — Feeding  the  Dogs — Our  Boys 
Guarding  Their  Own  Train — The  Evening  Meal — Bitter  Co^d 
— Milk  in  Lumps  of  Ice — Evening  Prayers — The  Wintry  Camp 
Bed — Tucked  In — Mysterious  Sounds  in  the  Forest — Smother- 
ing Sensations — Sam's  Nightmare — Breakfast — Tricky  Dogs — 
Methods  of  Capture — Carioles  and  Sleds  Reloaded — Trains 

Harnessed — Journay  Resumed 210 

9 


Contents 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Still  on  the  Way  io  the  Beavers — The  Blizzard  in  the  Camp- 
Sleeping  anil  Eating  under  Difficulties — Vicious  Little  Beaver 
Dogs — The  Beaver  House — Preparations  for  Their  Capture — 
The  Beavers'  Kitchen — Discovered  by  the  Little  Dogs — How 
Destroyed — The  Method  of  Capture — Man's  Experience 
versus  Animal  Instinct — The  Rich  Harvest  of  Beavers.      228 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Wise  Economy  of  Indian  Hunters — Game  Never  All  Killed 
— Beavers'  Tails — The  Boys  Interested  in  Them — Preparations 
for  the  Return  Trip — Loads  Packed — Wolverines — Their  Cun- 
ning Theft  of  Five  Beavers — Dogs  and  Men  on  Their  Trail — 
Surviving  Beavers  Already  at  Work — The  Return  of  the  Hunt- 
ers— Captured  Wolverines — ^Journey  Resumed — The  Camp— 
The  Cry  of  "Wolves!" 245 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Coming  Battle  with  the  Wolves — Thorough  Prepara- 
tions— The  Cry  of  the  Wolves  for  Reinforcements — The  First 
Attack  and  Repulse — Wounded  Wolves  Devoured — Memotas's 
Comments — The  Second  Attack — The  Powder  Explosions — 
Final  Victory — Dogs  Reluctant  to  Attack  Wolves — Explana- 
tions— Mr.  Ross's  Story  of  the  Bears  Stealing  His  Pigs — Dogs 
More  Confident  in  Attacking  Bears 259 

CHAPTER  XX. 

A  Bear  Hunt  in  Winter — Mustagan  a  Famous  Indian  Guide 
—  Bears'  Den  —  How  Discovered  —  Boys'  Perplexity  —  The 
Journey  to  the  Den — A  Cold  Morning — "The  Telltale  Column 
of  Steam — The  Attempt  to  Dig  Down  to  the  Bears — ^Total 
Failure — Successful  Tunneling  Operations — Exciting  Fight  in 
the  Icy  Cavern — The  Battles  Between  the  Men  and  Dogs  and 
the  Escaping  Bears 275 

CHAPTER  XXL 

The  First  Signs  of  Spring— The  Eagle  Moon— Expressive 
Indian  Names  for  Some  of  the  Months — Chats  Among  the 
Boys  About  the  Phenomena  of  the  North  Land — Power  of  the 
Frost — Cunning  of  Animals — Cleverness  of  the  Guides— Invi- 

10 


Contents 

tation  to  a  Muskrat  IIunt--GIadly  Accepted— Habits  of  These 
Little  Animals — Methods  of  Capture — Their  Many  Foes — The 
Queer  Battle  Between  Wild  Cats  and  Wolverines.     .      .  397 

CHAPTER  XXH. 

Niskepesim,  the  Goose  Moon — Excitement  Among  the  In- 
dians— The  First  Goose — Their  Northern  Migrations — Feeding 
Grounds — Methods  of  Hunting  Them — Nests — Decoys— Our 
Boys  Off  with  the  Indians — The  Shooting  Grounds — Thtir 
Camp — Great  Success — Frank's  Queer  Accident — Hit  by  a 
Dead  Goose — Sam's  Comments — Laden  with  Spoils.        .  312 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 

Sudden  Transition  from  Winter  to  Spring — Interesting 
Phenomena — Sam's  Last  Great  Run  with  His  Dogs— His 
Unique  Adventure — The  Open  Water — His  Novel  Raft— Sus- 
cessful  Crossing — Frank's  and  Alec's  Duck-shooting  Trip — 
The  Mighty  Nelson — A  Hunter's  Paradise — Returning  Under 
Difficulties — One  More  Shot  at  the  Wild  Geese — Frank  and 
Alec  Both  Through  the  Rotten  Ice — The  Rescue — Alarming 
Rumors — The  Fair  Visitants  at  Sagasta-weekee.     .        .  327 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Arrival  of  the  Spring  Packet — Welcome  Letters — Ar- 
rangements for  the  Home-flitting — Sam's  Raillery — Rachel 
and  Winnie  at  Sagasta-v/eekee — Happy  Hours — Canoeing  Ex- 
cursions— The  Cyclone — Young  Excursionists  Exposed  to  Its 
Awful  Power — The  Narrow  Escape — The  Refuge  of  the  Rock 
— Napoleon,  the  Tame  Bear,  in  Possession — Gun  Signals — The 
Happy  Rescue 341 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Homeward  Bound — Farewell  to  Sagasta-weekee — Old  Nor- 
way House — Sam's  Clever  Surmisings — A  Glad  Surprise  for 
Frank  and  Alec — Sam's  Well-deserved  Ducking — A  Glorious 
Evening — The  Early  Call^ust  One  More  Sweet  "Good-bye" 
— "All  Aboard !" — On  Great  Lake  Winnipop — Sam's  Success- 
ful Shot  at  a  Bear — Red  River — First  Glimpse  of  the  Prairies — 
Fort  Garry — The  Bells  of  St.  Boniface — The  Long  Trip  Across 
the  Plains— The  Exciting  Buffalo  Hunt— Saint  Paul's— Still 
On  by  Lakes  and  Rivers — Montreal — On  Board  Ship — The 
Ocean  Voyage — Liverpool— Home  at  Last.      .         .         .361 

II 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


ii 


1 

'if 


FACING 
PAGE 


The  Battle  with  the  Eagle Frontispiece 

Alec's  Race  with  the  Wolves 52 

Dog-traveling  under  Auroral  Lights 71 

Very  Glorious  Was  the  Scenery loi 

Summer  Sunday  Trips  to  Church no 

Churchgoing  in  Winter 118 

Norway    House,    the    Hudson    Bay   Company's 
Trading  Post 127 

Alec,  Victor  in  the  Dog  Race 138 

Paschf  Treed  by  a  Moose.  .  148 

The  Meeting  of  Kinesasis  and  Shakoona 161 

A  Winter  Scene  in  the  Great  Lone  Land 185 

The  Capture  of  the  Beavers 228 

The  Last  of  the  Buffalo 245 

Explosions  Mingled  with  Yells  of  Pain  and 
Terror 259 

The  Bear  Still  Holding  On  to  His  Pig 272 

Sam  with  His  Dogs  on  the  Ice  Raft 327 

R/chel  and  Winnie 341 

The  Village  of  Those  Noted  Warriors  of  the 
Plains 361 


WINTER  ADVENT^^RES  OF  THREE  BOYS 

IN   THE 

GREAT  LONE  LAND 


CHAPTER  I. 

Sagasta-weekee — A  Happy  Home  in  the  Great  Lone  Land — 
Three  Boys  There  Welcomed — The  Sudden  Coming  of  Winter 
—Various  Sports  Discussed— Hurrah  for  the  Dogs — Useful 
Animals — Dog-whips — Kinesasis,  the  Dog-keeper. 

While  a  wintry  storm  was  raging  outside,  in  the 
month  of  November,  three  happy,  excited  boys  were 
gathered  around  the  breakfast  table  in  a  cozy  home 
in  a  far  North  Land. 

To  those  who  have  not  read  of  the  previous 

doings  of  these  young  lads  we  would  say  that  our 

heroes  were  three  noble  boys  from  across  the  sea. 

They  had  come  out  the  previous  summer  from  Great 

Britain  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  ship  and  had 

had  several  months  of  most  delightful  and  exciting 

adventures  in  the  wild  North  Land.    They  were  the 

guests  of  Mr.  Ross,  a  retired  official  in  the  Hudson 

Bay  Company,  who,  when  his  long  term  of  active 

service  in  the  fur  trade  had  ended,  had  preferred 

remaining  in  the  country  rather  than  returning  to 

any  other  land.    During  the  many  years  he  had 

traded  with  the  Indians  he  had  ever  been  on  the 

most  friendly  terms  with  them.     He  had  observed 

so  many  noble  traits  and  characteristics  in  them  that 

13 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

he  and  his  family  preferred  spending  the  greater 
portion  of  each  year  surrounded  by  them.  Then  the 
quiet  charm  of  such  a  Hfe  had  more  attraction  and 
a  greater  fascination  for  them  than  the  rush  and 
worry  and  demands  of  our  so-called  highest  civili- 
zation. 

Mrs.  Rgss  was  a  native  Indian  woman,  but,  like 
many  other  wives  of  Hudson  Bay  officials,  was  a 
highly  educated  woman.  The  years  spent  in  foreign 
lands  at  the  best  of  schools  had  not  spoiled  her.  She 
was  beloved  and  honored  by  all  who  knew  her,  and 
she  was  indeed  a  benediction  and  a  blessing  among 
the  poor  of  her  own  people. 

The  musical  and  expressive  Indian  names  of  Min- 
nehaha and  Wenonah  had  been  given  to  the  two 
bright,  winsome  little  girls  in  the  household,  while 
the  wee  brother  was  called  by  the  old  Scottish  name 
of  Roderick. 

Cordially  had  Mrs.  Ross,  with  her  husband,  wel- 
comed the  three  boys,  who  at  their  special  request 
had  come  out  to  be  their  guests,  or  rather,  more  cor- 
rectly, to  be  loved  members  of  their  own  household, 
for  at  least  twelve  months  in  that  land.  Sagasta- 
weekee,  the  house  full  of  sunshine,  was  the  beautiful 
Indian  name  given  to  the  cozy,  comfortable  house 
which  Mr.  Ross  had  built  for  himself  and  household. 
It  was  a  delightful  home,  well  furnished  with  every- 
thing essential  to  the  enjoyment  and  comfort  of  all 
its  inmates. 

We  need  not  here  repeat  all  that  has  been  pre- 
viously mentioned  about  the  three  heroes  of  our 

story.    Suffice  it  to  say  that  Frank,  the  eldest,  was 

14 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

the  son  of  an  English  banker;  Alec  was  a  genuine 
Scottish  lad,  while  Sam  was  a  jolly  Irish  boy.  They 
had  a  splendid  trip  across  the  ocean,  and  had  met 
with  varied  adventures  while  on  the  long  journey  up 
the  rivers  and  across  the  portages  between  York 
Factory,  on  the  Hudson  Bay,  where  they  had  landed, 
and  Norway  House,  where  they  had  been  welcomed 
by  Mr.  Ross. 

The  summer  and  autumn  months  had  been  full  of 
wonderful  and  exciting  trips  and  adventures.  Their 
last  excursion,  which  had  so  recently  ended,  had 
been  one  of  great  pleasure  and  intense  excitement. 
It  had  been  made  in  canoes  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
country  where  reindeer  and  other  large  game 
abounded.  The  boys  would  have  been  delighted  to 
have  there  remained  longer,  but  the  experienced 
guide  and  canoemen  had  been  quick  to  notice  the 
significant  actions  of  the  wild  beasts,  as  well  as  the 
frightened  cries  and  incessant  flights  of  the  wild 
geese  and  ducks  to  the  South  Land. 

Spurred  on  by  the  signs  of  coming  winter,  they 
had  pushed  on  toward  home  with  unremitting  toil 
and  but  little  rest,  and  had  fortunately  managed  to 
land  the  boys  safely  at  Sagasta-weekee  the  day  be- 
fore the  wintry  gale  broke  upon  them. 

Great  indeed  was  the  amazement  of  our  three 
boys  at  the  transformation  wrought  by  this  sudden 
incoming  of  winter. 

People  living  in  more  southern  latitudes,  where 

the  transition  from  one  season  to  another  is  so  slow 

and  almost  imperceptible,  can  hardly  realize  the  sud-^ 

denness  with  which  the  Frost  King  can  set  up  his 

IS 


'Vi 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

throne  and  begin  his  despotic  reign.  There  are  no 
long  premonitions  of  his  coming.  No  noisy  heralds 
for  weeks  warn  of  his  approach.  The  birds  and 
beasts  seem  to  have  some  mysterious  intimations 
that  he  draweth  near,  and  act  accordingly.  But  man 
knoweth  not  of  his  approach;  he  heareth  not  his 
stealthy  steps. 

Yesterday  may  have  been  balmy  and  reposeful, 
with  only  a  few  breezes  from  the  summer  South 
Land.  To-day  the  wild  north  winds  may  howl  and 
shriek,  while  full  of  frost  and  pinching  cold  is  the 
icy,  biting  air.  Yesterday  the  waves  may  have  been 
merrily  rippling  in  the  sunshine  on  the  beautiful 
lakes.  To-day,  after  a  night  of  storm  and  boreal 
tempest,  the  ice  is  rapidly  forming,  and  is  binding 
down  in  strongest  fetters  the  highest  billows. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  were  much  pleased  and 
amused  at  the  genuine  excitement  of  the  lads  as  they 
realized  the  wondrous  transformation  wrought  by 
this  first  wintry  storm,  and  the  possibilities  it  opened 
up  to  them  for  other  kinds  of  sport  than  those  in 
which,  for  some  time  past,  they  had  been  so  deeply 
interested.  Eager  and  excited  as  they  were,  they 
had  as  yet  no  definite  plan  of  action  for  their  winter 
amusement.  So  sudden  had  been  the  transition, 
there  had  been  no  time  to  think.  However,  with 
boyish  candor  and  joyous  anticipation,  they  were  all 
ready  with  their  suggestions. 

"Skates !"  shouted  Alec,  as  he  caught  a  glimpse  of 

an  icy  expanse  that  glittered  in  the  distance  as  a  ray 

oi  sunshine  shot  out  through  the  parting  clouds  and 

for  a  moment  rested  upon  it. 

i6 


i|! 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

"Toboggans  l"  cried  Sam,  as  he  saw  a  steep  hill- 
side one  mass  of  beautiful  snow. 

"Let  us  make  an  ice  boat,"  said  Frank.  Although 
he  had  never  seen  one,  yet  he  had  eagerly  read  much 
about  them,  and  at  the  sight  of  the  frozen  lake  was 
wild  to  set  about  the  manufacture  of  one  of  these 
dainty  craft,  that  he  might  enjoy  the  exhilarating 
sport  he  had  so  long  anticipated. 

"Capital  suggestions  are  all  of  these,"  said  Mr. 
Ross.  "Still,  as  the  ice  is  not  yet  twenty-four  hours 
old,  and  therefore  not  very  safe  for  skating,  and  the 
snow  has  not  yet  fallen  in  sufficient  quantity  upon 
the  hills  to  make  them  smooth  enough  for  toboggan- 
ing, and  the  carpenter  will  require  some  time  to 
make  an  ice  boat,  and  we  will  have  six  good  months 
,of  winter  in  which  to  enjoy  these  and  other  sports, 
jny  suggestion  is  that  we  get  ready  to-day  to  start, 
as  soon  as  the  ice  will  be  safe,  for  the  island  fisheries 
and  bring  home  the  dogs." 

"The  dogs !  the  dogs !  yes,  hurrah  for  the  dogs !" 
cried  all  the  boys  in  unison. 

So  everything  was  for  the  moment  forgotten,  or 
postponed,  in  their  eager  anticipation  to  become  in- 
timately acquainted  with  the  dogs,  about  which  they 
had  heard  so  much.  During  the  summer  months  the 
dogs  were  sent  away  to  a  distant  island,  where  they 
were  cared  for  by  Kinesasis,  a  careful  old  Indian, 
who  with  a  few  nets  easily  caught  all  the  fish  they 
required  for  food.  This  island  was  quite  out  of  the 
iroute  of  travel,  and  so  our  young  friends  had  seen 
hut  little  of  Mr.  Ross's  dogs,  about  which  many  in- 
teresting stories  had  been  told  them.  Now  at  the 
2  17 


St' 


I  * 


i 


:H 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

prospect  of  soon  seeing  them  they  were  greatly 
delighted. 

Although  so  much  can  be  done  with  dogs  in  win- 
ter in  those  high  latitudes,  there  is  practically  no  use 
for  them  in  summer.  It  is  true  that  some  enterpris- 
ing missionaries  had  used  them  for  plowing  up  their 
little  potato  fields  and  gardens,  and  yet  it  was  slow 
work  and  not  long  continued.  But  through  the  long 
winter  the  dog  is  practically  the  only  draft  animal 
that  can  be  utilized  by  the  inhabitants  of  those  re- 
gions. From  the  far-off  forest  the  wood  for  fuel  is 
dragged  home  by  the  Qogs.  The  frozen  fish,  which 
are  caught  and  piled  up  on  stages  beyond  the  reach 
of  wolves  or  other  wild  beas^^s,  are  drawn  home  to 
the  villages  from  the  distant  ftbheries  by  the  well- 
trained  dogs. 

When  a  Christian  decides  to  exchange  his  old 
wigwam  for  a  house,  all  the  squared  timber  and  logs 
required  in  its  construction  are  dragged,  if  not 
floated  by  water  in  the  summer  time,  it  may  be 
several  miles,  by  the  dogs.  Christian  hunters  use 
them  to  drag  home  the  moose  and  reindeer  or  other 
heavy  game  they  may  shoot.  Formerly  their  wives 
and  mothers  had  to  do  this  heavy  work,  but  now 
Christianity  has  relegated  this  and  many  other 
heavy  duties  to  the  dogs. 

However,  the  greatest  and  most  arduous  work  to 
which  the  dogs  are  put  is  that  of  drawing  the  cari- 
oles  and  dog-sleds  of  travelers  and  tourists  or  fur 
traders  for  long  distances  through  various  parts  of 
that  great  northern  land.  Without  the  dogs,  travel- 
ing in  that  country  would  be  practicallv  impossible  in 

i8 


ii 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


the  winter  months.  So  full  of  lakes  and  rivers  is  the 
country  that  it  is  possible  to  go  almost  anywhere 
in  a  birch  canoe  in  summer  by  making  occasional 
portages.  But  when  the  severe  cold  freezes  up  those 
water  stretches  and  the  snow  lies  thick,  and  there 
is  not  the  least  vestige  of  a  road  or  trail,  then  the 
value  and  sagacity  of  the  dogs  are  seen  and  the 
power  and  endurance  of  the  guides  and  drivers  are 
put  to  the  severest  test. 

Mr.  Ross  still  prided  himself  on  his  splendid  dogs. 
In  his  younger  days  he  had  the  reputation  of  being 
one  of  the  most  active  and  energetic  of  the  young 
officers  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 
His  father,  who  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  chief 
factors  in  the  Company's  service,  was  proud  of  his 
son's  endurance  and  skill,  as  well  as  of  his  tact  and 
ability  in  managing  strange  Indians  and  thus  open- 
ing up  new  trading  posts  among  them.  So  con- 
stantly employed  had  he  been  in  thus  advancing  the 
interests  of  this  fur-trading  corporation  that  some 
winters  he  traveled  thousands  of  miles  with  his  own 
dog-train  and  guides.  In  his  wanderings  he  had 
met  with  some  strange  adventures,  and  had  passed 
through  some  trying  ordeals.  Later  on  we  may 
hear  from  his  own  lips  the  recital  of  some  of  these 
stirring  events. 

Now,  however,  chat  he  had  retired  from  active 
service  he  had  left  these  long  and  dangerous  jour- 
neys to  be  taken  by  younger  men.  Still,  the  love  for 
the  dogs  was  so  ingrained  within  him,  and  he  had 
so  much  work  for  them  to  do,  that  he  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  some  very  valuable  trains,  which  every 

1$ 


I 


^3 


'V- 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

winter  di(i  his  work  and  gave  him  as  much  pleasure 
as  ever  a  man  derived  from  the  possession  of  a  fine 
carriage  and  a  splendid  span  of  horses. 

Knowing  well  the  habits  of  the  old  Indian  who 
had  charge  of  his  dogs,  Mr.  Ross  said  to  the  boys : 

"It  is  very  likely  that  Kinesasis  will  come  in  to- 
day with  some  of  the  dogs.  If  he  does  we  will 
harness  them  up  to-morrow,  and  if  the  ice  is  strong 
enough  to  be  safe  we  will  return  with  them  for  the 
others.  I  understand  he  has  a  number  of  fine  young 
dogs ;  doubtless  there  will  be  enough  to  make  a  good 
train  for  each  of  you,  after  they  are  broken  in.  So 
there  will  be  plenty  of  work  for  all  to-day,  to  get 
ready  for  the  first  day's  outing  with  dog-trains." 

Soon  everybody  was  at  work.  Indian  women, 
under  Mrs.  Ross's  direction,  were  busily  employed  in 
making  large  mooseskin  moccasins  and  mittens. 
Beautiful  white  blanket  overcoats,  with  warm  ca- 
potes or  hoods,  had  already  been  made  for  each  of 
the  boys.  They  were  to  be  worn  over  the  dee-skin 
suits  when  they  stopped  to  rest  in  the  heavy  trail, 
and  also  while  the  boys  were  riding  over  the  long 
stretches  of  icy  roads  where  it  was  possible  for  the 
dogs  to  easily  draw  them. 

While  the  Indian  women  were  thus  busily  en- 
gaged in  fitting  out  the  warm  apparel  necessary  for 
traveling  in  such  a  cold  land  the  bc/s  were  making 
themselves  useful,  under  Mr.  Ross's  guidance,  in 
overhauling  carioles,  dog  sleds,  harness,  robes, 
snowshoes,  and  other  things  essential  for  the  trip 
on  the  morrow.  While  almost  everything  was  novel 
and  strange  to  them,  they  were  most  interested  in 

2o 


IN  THE  Great  x^one  Land 

the  heavy  dog-whips,  and,  boyhke,  must  try  their 
hands  in  wielding  them.  These  whips  differed  very 
much  from  anything  they  had  ever  seen  in  civiHza- 
tion.  While  the  handles  were  only  eighteen  inches 
in  length,  the  lashes,  which  were  loaded  with  shot, 
were  over  fifteen  feet  long.  To  skillfully  handle  one 
requires  much  care  and  practice.  An  inexperienced 
person  is  apt  to  q;et  into  trouble  when  he  first 
attempts  to  use  one. 

Sam  was  the  first  of  the  boys  to  attempt  to  dis- 
play his  skill,  but  he  soon  found  that  a  heavily 
loaded  dog- whip  was  a  different  weapon  from  an 
Irish  shillalah.  He  had  admired  the  skill  and  dex- 
terity with  which  Mr.  Ross,  at  the  boy's  request,  had 
used  one,  and,  foolishly  thinking  that  he  could  suc- 
cessfully imitate  him,  had  with  any  amount  of 
assurance  made  the  attempt.  To  his  surprise  and 
chagrin  the  cracker  of  the  whip,  instead  of  explod- 
ing with  a  pistol-«hotlike  report  at  a  spot  about 
fifteen  feet  away,  as  it  had  done  for  Mr.  Ross,  had 
by  some  remarkable  movement,  entirely  unexpected, 
squarely  landed  with  stinging  effect  upon  his  nose! 

Alec  was  the  next  to  try  his  skill.  He  was  a  little 
more  successful  than  Sam,  in  that  he  escap'^d  in- 
flicting any  injury  upon  himself,  but  he  succeeded  in 
striking  Frank  upon  his  ear,  although  he  stood  fully 
six  feet  away  from  the  spot  at  which  Alec  had 
aimed.  Frank,  with  his  ear  hot  and  stinging  from 
the  effects  of  the  blow  so  unexpected  and  so  unin- 
tentionally given,  wisely  decided  that  he  would  post- 
pone his  first  attempt  with  a  weapon  that  seemed  to 
be  as  uncertain  as  a  boomerang. 

21 


!l ' 


Hi' 


Winter  AovENTUREi  of  Three  Boys 

To  the  great  delight  of  the  boys,  as  Mr.  Ross  had 
predicted,  toward  evening  in  came  Kinesasis  with 
about  a  dozen  dogs  at  ^*  '  els.  The  splendid  ani- 
mals were  delighted  to  gvi  home  again  after  their 
long  summer's  outing,  and  joyously  they  greeted 
Mr.  Ross  and  the  other  inmates  of  the  household. 
To  our  three  boys,  who  had  arrived  since  their  de- 
parture, they  were  somewhat  distant  and  unsociable. 
It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  native  dogs  are  much 
more  hostile  to  white  people  than  to  the  natives. 
This  offishness  and  even  hostility  on  the  part  of  the 
dogs  did  not  much  disturb  the  boys.  They,  boylike, 
had  all  confidence  in  themselves  that  by  tact  and 
kindness  they  would  soon  become  warm  friends,  and 
in  this  they  were  not  disappointed.  After  Kinesasis 
had  seen  the  dogs  well  fed  and  put  into  their  ken- 
nels he  was  taken  into  the  kitchen  and  given  a  hearty 
meal.  A  pipe  of  tobacco  was  then  put  in  his  hands, 
and  shortly  after  he  had  begun  to  smoke  he  made 
his  report  of  his  summer's  doings  to  Mr.  Ross. 

To  the  great  delight  of  Frank,  Alec,  and  Sam, 
Mr.  Ross  was  able  to  inform  them  that  the  number 
of  young  dogs  of  the  right  age  to  break  into  work 
was  so  large  that  he  would  be  able  to  furnish  each  of 
them  with  a  capital  train,  which  they  should  have 
charge  of  and  call  their  own  as  long  as  they  re- 
mained in  the  country. 

The  few  short  hours  of  sunshine  of  that  Novem- 
ber day  sped  away  all  too  soon  for  the  completion 
of  the  work  to  be  done,  and  so  by  lamplight  willing 
hands  toiled  on  until  everything  was  ready  for  the 
journey.    So  rapidly  did  the  temperature  fall,  and 

22 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

so  intense  became  the  cold,  that  Mr.  Ross  decided 
that  with  careful,  experienced  Kinesasis  as  their 
guide  the  ice  would  be  quite  strong  enough  to  bear 
them  on  the  morrow,  and  so  if  the  storm  was  not  too 
severe  they  would  be  off  as  soon  as  there  was  suf- 
ficient light,  as  it  was  too  risky  to  travel  in  the  dark 
over  such  thin  ice. 

Cozy  were  the  beds  and  warm  were  the  blankets 
into  which  three  happy,  excited  boys  tumbled  that 
night,  and  if  in  their  pleasant  dreams  there  were 
sounds  of  cracking  whips  and  jingling,  musical  dog- 
bells — well,  we  will  not  envy  them,  still  we  wish  we 

were  there. 

23 


<     'C. 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


!f     ! 


CHAPTER  II. 
Bringing  Home  the  Dogs — The  Thin  Ice — Method  of  Cross- 
ing Dangerous  Places— The  Dogs'  Summer  Home— The 
Return  Trip^The  Unexpected  Goose  Hunt — The  Saucy  Fox — 
Kinesasis's  Question,  *'Why  Do  the  Geese  Go  to  the  South 
Land?" 

Long  before  daylight  the  next  morning  the  lamps 
were  brightly  burning  in  Sagasta-weekee.  As  it 
was  fully  twenty  miles  to  the  island  where  Kinesasis 
had  kept  the  dogs,  and  Mr.  Ross  was  anxious  that 
they  should  return  home  that  night,  it  was  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  every  hour  of  the  daylight 
should  be  utilized.  Thus  it  was  that  all  were  stir- 
ring long  before  daybreak.  A  good  warm  break- 
fast was  t.iten  and  all  final  preparations  made. 

As  Kinesasis  had  brought  back  with  him  twelve 
dogs,  they  were  thus  able  to  rig  out  three  trains  for 
the  trip.  Extra  sleds  and  harness  were  taken  along, 
as  well  as  food  and  blankets,  in  case  any  serious 
accident  or  delay  should  happen  to  them.  In  such 
a  land  it  is  always  best  to  be  prepared  for  any 
emergency. 

The  boys  were  very  proud  and  happy  in  their  new 
mooseskin  costumes  and  snow-white  blankets,  only 
relieved  by  the  black  stripes  on  the  sleeves  and  skirts. 
Kinesasis,  who  had  been  on  the  lookout,  at  length 
reported  the  morning  star,  just  visible  as  the  har- 
binger of  dawn.  This  was  good  news,  and  so  the 
start  was  soon  made. 

Mr.  Ross  up  to  a  late  hour  the  previous  evening 

24 


I       ^^i' 


IN   THE  (jREAT   LoNE   LaND 


s  evening 


had  not  thought  of  going,  but  now,  at  the  sight  of 
the  dogs  and  the  preparations  for  the  journey,  lie 
seemed  to  catch  the  enthusiasm  of  the  boys,  as  well 
as  the  fire  of  earHer  days,  and  resolved  to  accompany 
them.  Three  Indian  dog-drivers  had  been  secured, 
while  Kinesasis,  old  as  he  was,  was  proud  to  act  the 
part  of  guide  for  the  whole  party. 

Sam  shared  a  large  cariole  with  Mr.  Ross,  while 
Frank  and  Alec  occupied  another.  To  each  cariole 
was  assigned  a  careful  driver.  The  third  Indian 
made  up  his  load  of  several  dog-sleds  piled  on  each 
other.  All  were  well  loaded  with  supplies.  Kine- 
sasis armed  himself  with  a  stout  pole  about  ten  feet 
long,  which  he  carried  as  an  Alpine  climber  would 
his  alpenstock,  although  it  weighed  as  much  as  .1 
dozen  of  them.  The  boys  were  surprised  at  seeing 
him  thus  encumber  himself  with  a  pole  so  heavy. 
They  were  also  perplexed,  when  it  grew  lighter,  to 
see  a  similar  one  tied  on  to  the  sled  of  the  third 
driver.  However,  before  the  journey  was  finished 
they  saw  the  wisdom  of  his  forethought. 

At  first  some  of  the  dogs  seemed  to  resent  the  re- 
straint of  the  harness,  and  acted  as  though  they 
would  still  have  preferred  the  liberty  which  had  been 
theirs  all  through  the  summer  months.  Others, 
however,  seemed  to  be  delighted  to  hear  the  music 
of  the  little  open  bells  with  which  the  collars  of  their 
harness  were  decorated,  and  joyously  barked  and 
jumped  about  as  though,  in  glad  sport,  they  were 
dancing  to  the  music  they  themselves  were  making. 

The  trail  selected  at  once  led  them  out  along  Jack 

River,  and  then  southwest  into  Playgreen  Lake. 

^5 


fl'l 


ih 


I  j^W 


L 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Kinesasis's  alert  eye  was  on  the  ice  continually. 
Now  he  was  glancing  at  the  long  stretches  before 
him,  and  then  quickly  deciding  the  best  route  to  fol- 
low. When  this  was  selected  he  seemed  to  critically 
examine  every  yard  of  the  ice  over  which,  on  his 
moccasined  feet,  he  so  lightly  and  yet  so  rapidly 
glided.  His  constant  alertness  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary; for  while  the  ice  was  apparently  strong  enough 
to  be  safe,  yet  when  ice  freezes  up  thus  rapidly  air 
holes  frequently  abound,  which  may  be  so  thinly 
coated  over  that  none  but  an  experienced  eye  can 
detect  them.  They  are  very  treacherous,  as  the  ice, 
which  to  any  ordinary  observer  may  appear  safe, 
may  not  be  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  so 
the  unfortunate  person  stepping  on  one  may  sud- 
denly drop  out  of  sight. 

The  rate  at  which  Kinesasis  led  the  party  was 
about  five  miles  an  hour.  To  do  this  he  kept  up  a 
swinging  jog  trot,  and  was  ever  on  the  alert  for 
danger.  Mr.  Ross,  whose  cariole  immediately  fol- 
lowed the  guide,  well  knowing  that  there  was  a  cer- 
tain spice  of  danger  associated  with  a  trip  like  this 
so  soon  after  the  ice  had  formed,  also  kept  con- 
stantly on  the  alert,  as  his  long  years  in  such  kind 
of  traveling  made  him  almost  equal  to  an  Indian  in 
this  respect.  After  traveling  for  ten  miles  they 
reached  a  spot  where  one  of  the  great  currents  of  the 
mighty  Nelson  River,  from  Lake  Winnipeg,  had 
kept  the  ice  from  forming  as  solidly  as  where  the 
water  was  not  so  rapid  in  motion.  By  its  ominous 
bending  and  cracking  under  him  Kinesasis  saw  the 

danger  and  suddenly  brought  the  whole  party  to  a 

a6 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

halt.  As  the  weakness  in  the  ice  apparently  ex- 
tended a  long  way  in  each  direction,  it  was  evident 
that  the  party  must  get  across  in  some  way  or  else 
return  home.  The  latter  idea  was  not  for  a  moment 
to  be  entertained,  and  so  arrangements  were  at  once 
made  for  crossing  the  dangerous  place.  Thi?3  novel 
plan  was  witnessed  by  the  boys  with  a  great  deal  of 
interest.  At  first  they  wished  to  jump  from  the 
warm  fur  robes  in  their  carioles,  but  this  Mr.  Ross 
would  not  hear  of.  They  could  be  of  no  service  and 
would  only  get  thoroughly  chilled. 

The  crossing  over  the  dangerous  place  was  ac- 
complished in  the  following  manner :  Kinesasis  first 
untied  the  other  heavy  pole  from  the  dog-sled,  and 
then,  advancing  to  the  place  where  the  weak  ice 
began,  he  carefully  laid  one  of  the  poles  on  the  poor 
ice,  and  using  the  other  as  a  ropewalker  would  his 
balancing  pole,  he  carefully  walked  out  on  the  one  on 
the  ice.  Then  carefully  placing  the  one  in  his  hand 
down  on  the  ice,  in  a  straight  line  before  him,  he 
stepped  on  it  and  cautiously  lifted  up  the  one  over 
which  he  had  just  walked.  Using  this  as  he  had 
handled  the  other  one,  as  a  balancing  pole,  he  thus 
went  on  and  on,  using  his  poles  alternately,  until  he 
reached  the  strong  ice  on  the  other  side.  Then  he 
returned  in  the  same  way  and  reported  to  Mr.  Ross 
his  opinion,  which  was  that  by  doubling  the  under 
surface  of  the  carioles  they  could  pass  over  in  safety. 

This  was  quickly  done  by  taking  the  sleds,  vv^hich 

the  third  Indian  driver  had  in  charge,  and  securely 

lashing  them  to  the  sides  of  the  carioles,  in  such  a 

way  that  the  area  of  surface  on  the  ice  would  be 

27 


ani  r  i  lir  tsuuutjioamiamm 


il! 


I' 


'II 


l|« 


III. 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

doubled,  and  thus  the  pressure  would  be  only  half. 
As  an  extra  precaution  a  long  rope  was  tied  to  the 
rear  of  each  cariole.  Then  Kinesasis  once  more 
crossed  over  with  his  poles  to  the  firm  ice.  The 
dogs  were  put  to  the  gallop,  and  being  urged  by 
those  behind,  as  well  as  by  Kinesasis's  well-known 
voice  in  front,  the  dangerous  place  was  passed  in 
safety. 

''Now  I  see,"  said  Alec,  "the  solution  of  what 
was  bothering  me.  I  wondered  how  Kinesasis  was 
able  to  get  along  over  the  weak  places  in  the  ice  yes- 
terday, but  with  those  poles  to  help  him  it  is  now 
plain  enough." 

"It  must  require  a  great  deal  of  practice  to  do  it 
safely,"  said  Frank.  And  so  in  after  days  he  found 
it  out  when  he  made  the  attempt  himself,  and  in 
trying  to  transfer  himself  from  one  to  the  other 
ignominiously  fell  off,  with  such  force  that  he  broke 
through  the  thin  ice.  Fortunately  he  had  presence 
of  mind  enough  to  seize  hold  of  one  of  the  poles, 
which  was  in  such  a  position  that  each  end  rested 
on  the  unbroken  ice.  His  frightened  shouts  soon 
brought  help,  and  he  was  quickly  rescued. 

Nothing  else  occurred  to  cause  delay  on  the  route, 
and  so  before  noon  the  dogs,  excited  by  the  near 
approach  to  the  spot  where  they  had  spent  their 
happy  summer,  sprang  into  a  gallop  and  fairly  flew 
over  the  good  ice  that  was  found  for  the  last  few 
miles.  Kinesasis  and  the  Indian  drivers  had  all  they 
could  do  to  keep  up  with  them. 

With  great  delight  did  the  boys  spring  out  of 
their  carioles,  and  then  and  there  declared  that  dog 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

traveling  was  the  most  exhilarating  of  sports  and 
the  very  poetry  of  motion.  Some  time  later  they 
changed  their  views.  Immediately  on  their  landing 
they  were  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  dogs  of  all 
ages,  and  doglike  they  acted.  The  old  fellows  that 
had  done  good  work  in  other  years  and  were  now 
only  kept  for  drawing  wood  for  the  fires,  or  hay 
from  the  distant  beaver  meadows  for  the  cattle,  were 
dignified  and  sedate,  and  yet  manifested  the  greatest 
affection  for  their  old  master,  who  was  kind  and 
gentle  to  all  the  animals  in  his  possession.  This 
kindness  w^as  well  repaid  by  the  intelligent  obedience 
they  all  gave  him.  Eagerly  the  boys  scanned  the 
young  dogs,  for  from  among  them,  were  to  be  se- 
lected the  promised  trains  which  they  were  to  call 
their  own. 

While  the  boys  were  discussing  the  dogs  and  indi- 
cating their  preferences  old  Kinesasis  had  rekindled 
the  fire  in  the  large  wigwam  in  which  he  had  passed 
the  summer,  and,  aided  by  the  other  Indians  of  the 
party,  busied  himself  in  preparing  the  dinner  out  of 
the  supplies  which  had  been  brought  along.  Never 
did  a  dinner  seem  to  taste  better  than  did  that  one 
in  that  leather  tent  to  those  boys,  who  had  so  en- 
joyed the  exhilarating  twenty-mile  trip. 

After  Mr.  Ross,  Frank,  Sam,  and  Alec  had  dined, 

Kinesasis  and  the  Indian  dog-drivers  soon  had  a 

hearty  dinner,  and  then,  after  the  inevitable  pipes, 

the  work  of  preparation  for  the  return  trip  speedily 

began.    It  was  the  desire  of  all  to  reach  home  before 

dark.    To  accomplish  this  would  be  no  easy  matter, 

as  there  were  so  many  untrained  dogs.    At  first  it 

29 


j»i  i»mjii»iin«ini 


I 


I  I     1 


iiii 


!i' 


,:i:i; 


I 


1; 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

was  decided  to  harness  up  a  number  of  these,  as 
harness  had  been  brought  for  the  purpose,  but  after 
some  consultation  with  Kinesasis  about  the  thin  ice 
Mr.  Ross  decided  against  it,  thus  leaving  the  young 
dogs  to  follow.  Only  the  old  dogs  were  harnessed. 
This  added  a  couple  more  trains  to  the  party.  The 
sleds  of  these  were  loaded  down  with  the  tent,  nets, 
and  other  things  which  had  made  up  Kinesasis's  out- 
fit during  the  summer. 

At  length  everything  was  loaded  up,  and  the  re- 
turn trip  began.  There  was  some  trouble  in  getting 
a  number  of  the  younger  dogs  to  take  to  the  ice  and 
keep  up  with  the  trains;  numbers  would  persist  in 
turning  round  and  hurrying  back. 

"We  cannot  blame  them,"  Sam  said  afterward, 
and  his  Irish  oratorv  burst  forth  as  he  described 
what  had  been  their  happy  condition.  "Just  think," 
he  said,  "on  that  beautiful  island  in  the  pleasant 
springtime  they  were  born.  There  they  have  had  a 
happy,  careless  puppyhood  life.  There  they  have 
spent  the  pleasant  summer  time  with  plenty  to  eat 
and  nothing  to  do.  On  the  sandy  beaches  and  over 
the  smooth  rocks  they  have  gamboled  together,  and 
in  the  warm,  rippling  waters  they  have  splashed  and 
battled.  Now  the  cold  weather  has  suddenly  cc  me 
and  the  snow  has  covered  their  favorite  romping 
grounds,  and  even  their  great  bathing  places  are 
hard  with  slippery  ice." 

There  was,  however,  but  little  sentiment  in  the 
minds  of  Mr.  Ross  and  the  Indians.  On  the  con- 
trary, they  were  very  much  annoyed  at  the  delay  the 
refractory  young  dogs  were  causing,  and  so  had  to 


I 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

adopt  prompt  measures,  or  they  well  knew  that  the 
night  would  be  upon  them  ere  home  was  reached. 
The  younger  puppies  were  packed  in  the  carioles 
around  our  travelers,  and  some  of  the  more  obsti- 
nate older  ones  were  led  by  ropes  fastened  to  their 
collars  and  tied  to  the  sleds,  while  the  great  major- 
ity, coaxed  by  little  pieces  of  meat  occasionally 
dropped  on  the  ice,  kept  well  up  to  the  trains.  Thus 
on  they  pushed  until  they  reached  the  rapid  current 
in  the  lake  where  the  thin  ice  had  given  them  so 
much  trouble  in  the  morning.  Fortunately  the  ad- 
ditional hours  of  bitter  cold  had  so  strengthened  it 
that  no  serious  difficulty  was  anticipated  in  crossing 
over,  even  if  the  loads  were  much  heavier. 

But  another  event  occurred,  quite  unexpected,  in- 
deed, and  which,  while  it  did  much  to  impede  their 
progress,  created  a  good  deal  of  excitement  and  in- 
terest. The  first  intimation  of  its  coming  was  the 
sudden  cry  of  wild  geese  not  very  far  away.  Their 
"Honk !  honk !"  was  very  distinct,  and  not  only  ex- 
cited the  boys,  but  also  the  dogs.  The  loose  dogs, 
in  spite  of  all  the  calls  of  the  Indians,  at  once  dashed 
off  in  the  direction  from  which  the  loud  calls  were 
coming,  while  the  sleigh  dogs  were  almost  unman- 
ageable. Prompt  and  quick  were  the  men  to  act. 
The  excited  dog-trains  were  bunched  and  tied  to- 
gether and  left  in  charge  of  a  couple  of  Indians, 
while  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  and  a  couple  of  Indians 
went  forward  to  investigate. 

To  the  right,  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  away, 
was  a  rocky  island,  on  one  side  of  which  was  a  reedy 
marsh.    From  among  the  reeds  and  rushes  the  loud 

31 


r«"*     >i»ru»W"'i    •>*'Vi»«,'- 


I 


I* 


ift; 


'!|' 


I 


I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

calls  of  the  geese  were  coming.  Into  these  plunged 
the  Gogs,  while  the  men  and  boys  climbed  up  on  the 
rocks  where  they  could  overlook  the  whole  spot, 
which  was  only  of  a  few  acres  in  extent.  The  ex- 
perienced eyes  of  the  Indians  took  in  the  whole  sit- 
uation at  a  glance.  The  young  geese  had  not  been 
strong  enough  to  fly  away  to  the  sunny  South  Land 
when  the  call  to  go  had  come,  and  so  the  old  geese 
had  left  them  behind  to  perish.  And  so  now  here 
they  were,  over  twenty  of  them.  A  novel  goose 
hunt  was  organized,  and,  while  the  boys  looked  on, 
the  Indians,  with  the  dogs'  help,  soon  secured  quite 
a  numk  Some  of  them  were  easily  killed,  as  they 
were  securely  frozen  to  the  icy  reeds.  Others  rushed 
about  in  a  vain  attempt  to  escape,  but  they  were  so 
chilled  by  the  cold  that  they  were  easily  captured. 
The  sleds  were  piled  up  with  this  additional  load 
of  geese,  and  the  journey  was  resumed. 

Later  on  in  the  evening  the  boys  heard  from 
Kinesasis  more  about  those  young  geese  and  why 
they  were  there.  They  also  learned  some  truths 
from  nature  that  abode  with  them  for  many  a  day. 

Without  much  difficulty  the  dangerous  places  in 
Playgreen  Lake  were  passed,  and  the  return  run 
down  Jack  River  was  begun.  The  loose  young  dogs 
were  pretty  well  wearied  by  the  long  trip  and  re- 
quired some  coaxing,  and  even  the  occasional  crack 
of  the  whip  was  necessary  to  urge  them  to  keep  up. 
It  is  amazing  what  a  latent  amount  of  strength  and 
speed  there  is  in  a  tired  dog.  Here  was  a  striking 
example  of  it.    While  the  trains  were  jogging  along, 

and  the  young  dogs  with  tongues  out  and  tails  down 

32 


IS  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

were  wearily  following  after  and  looking  as  though 
they  were  deeply  hemoaning  their  lot,  suddenly  a 
splendid  cross-fox  sprang  out  from  the  dense  forest 
on  one  side  of  the  river  and  deliberately  dashed 
across  before  the  dogs  on  the  frozen  ice  toward  the 
other  shore.  All  evidence  of  weariness  at  once  dis- 
appeared. With  a  hue  and  cry  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  first-class  pack  of  hounds  they  were  all 
off,  sleigh  dogs  as  well  as  loose  ones. 

The  ice  was  so  slippery  that  it  required  quite  an 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  drivers  of  the  carioles  to 
control  their  dogs  and  get  them  in  line.  If  the  truth 
must  be  told,  the  boys  richly  enjoyed  the  short  burst 
of  speed  and  the  exciting  chase,  which  ended  almost 
as  soon  as  it  began,  for  Reynard  was  too  much  for 
the  young  dogs  and  soon  reached  the  shelter  of  the 
wooded  shore. 

The  beautiful  evening  stars  were  shining  in  the 
western  sky  ere  the  welcome  lights  in  the  windows 
of  Sagasta-weekee  were  seen.  A  hearty  welcome 
was  given  to  the  returning  party  by  Mrs.  Ross  and 
the  children.  All  were  anxious  to  hear  about  the 
first  day's  winter  outing,  and  each  boy  had  to  give 
his  own  version  of  the  day's  excitements  and 
pleasures. 

The  commodious  kennels  were  soon  taken  pos- 
session of  by  the  tired  dogs.  Indian  servants  had 
abundance  of  fish  ready  for  them,  and  a  watchful 
oversight  was  kept  upon  them  that  the  stronger  ones 
should  not  rob  the  weaker  or  younger  ones,  a  trick, 
we  are  sorry  to  say,  of  which  some  dogs  are  guilty. 

After  the  hearty  supper  and  prayers  were  over  in 
3  33 


a' 


i     ! 


I  III'  :  I 


■\     I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  dining  room,  and  the  younger  children  had  re- 
tired to  rest,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  and  the  hoys  went 
out  into  the  capacious  kitchen  to  hear  old  Kinesasis 
give  his  version  of  the  goose  hunt.  To  please  the 
old  man,  Mr.  Ross  filled  a  beautiful  calumet  and  pre- 
sented it  to  him  as  a  gift,  in  addition  to  his  wages, 
for  his  thoughtful  care  of  the  dogs  while  under  his 
charge  at  the  island.  For  some  minutes  he  smoked 
his  new  pipe  in  silence.  Indians  are  the  least  de- 
monstrative people  in  the  world,  and  Kinesasis  was 
one  of  them.  He  was  never  known  to  say  "Thank 
you"  in  his  life,  and  yet  none  could  be  more  grateful 
or  pleased  than  he  to  have  his  faithful  services  thus 
recognized.  Mr.  Ross  thoroughly  understood  him, 
and  the  grateful  look  in  his  expressive  eyes  as  he 
received  the  pipe  from  Mr.  Ross's  hand  was  all  that 
was  expected  or  that  would  be  received.  Without 
one  word  of  reference  to  the  pipe,  Kinesasis  began 
about  the  wild  geese.  Here  is  his  story,  which  was 
a  sort  of  monologue.    He  said : 

"I  have  been  much  thinking  about  it,  and  I  feel 
that  it  is  my  fault  that  the  young  geese  could  not  go 
south  with  the  old  ones  when  the  call  came  in  the 
voice  of  the  North  Wind  that  it  was  time  to  go.  I 
well  remember  that  last  spring,  when  in  the  big  boat 
I  carried  the  dogs  out  to  the  island,  we  saw  some 
geese  flying  around  that  island  where  we  caught 
the  young  ones  to-day.  We  could  not  get  a  shot  at 
the  old  geese  then,  they  were  so  wary,  but  we  pulled 
ashore,  and  there  among  the  rushes  we  found  some 
nests  full  of  eggs.    Of  course,  we  took  the  eggs  and 

ate  them.    No  doubt  those  old  geese  when  they  re- 

34 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

turned,  after  we  had  gone,  were  very  angry  at  our 
taking  the  eggs,  but  they  were  not  discouraged,  and 
so  they  went  to  work  and  filled  up  their  nests  with 
another  setting  of  eggs  and  hatched  them  out.  But 
they  had  lost  a  full  month  of  time,  and  there  was 
not  enough  warm  weather  left  for  these  broods  of 
young  geese  to  grow  strong  to  rise  up  in  the  air 
when  the  call  came  to  fly  away  to  the  South  Land." 

For  a  few  minutes  he  puffed  away  vigorously  at 
his  calumet,  and  then  continuing  his  story  said: 
"Wild  geese  are  strange  things.  I  have  hid  myself 
from  them  and  watched  them  years  ago,  when  they 
were  more  plentiful  and  hatched  their  young  at 
many  places  around  our  lakes  and  rivers  here.  Then 
we  had  only  bows  and  arrows,  and  so  did  not  kill  as 
many  as  we  do  now.  Their  greatest  enemies  were 
the  foxes,  but  no  fox  would  dare  attack  a  goose  on 
her  nest  or  a  brood  of  young  ones  if  the  old  gander 
were  around.  One  blow  of  his  powerful  wing  would 
kill  any  fox.  I  have  found  dead  foxes  that  have 
thus  been  killed." 

Then,  looking  up,  the  old  Indian  said,  in  a  voice 
that  showed  he  was  deeply  impressed  by  what  he 
was  uttering:  "There  was  always  some  strange 
mystery  about  their  call  to  go  south  and  their  leav- 
ing. To-day  they  would  be  acting  as  though  they 
would  be  intending  to  stay  with  us  all  the  time. 
They  were  all  very  quiet  and  only  busy  in  getting 
their  food,  while  the  old  ones  were  alert  against 
their  enemies,  and  would  even  risk  their  lives  to  de- 
fend their  young  ones.  Then  to-morrow  would 
come,  and  there  was  such  a  change  in  them.    They 

35 


^  1 

1  1    ' 

r 

1 

i' 

j 

t 

1 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

were  all  so  excited  and  noisy;  their  cries  filled  the 

air.     The  old  ones  would  stretch  their  wings  and 

circle  round  and  round  in  the  air  alxjut  their  young 

ones  and  encourage  them  to  follow.     Soon  all  of 

them  would  rise  up  and  up,  and,  starting  away  for 

the  South  Land,  we  would  see  them  no  more  that 

year.     And  yet  not  all,  for  sometimes  there  were 

late  broods,  like  the  one  we  found  to-day.     They 

came  too  late  to  be  strong  enough  to  fly.     They 

could  not  go,  and  here  is  the  mystery  to  me.     Why 

was  it  that  the  parent  geese,  that  yesterday  would 

risk  their  lives  in  fighting  against  wild  animals  to 

save  their  young,  would  to-day,  when  the  call  came 

to  go,  leave  their  young  broods  behind   them  to 

perish?    They  all  did  it.     Never  was  an  old  goose 

known  to  stay  behind  when  the  call  came.     That 

voice  was  louder  and  stronger  than  was  even  the 

love  for  their  offspring.     Can  any  of  you  tell  old 

Kinesasis  why  it  is  so?" 

36 


\i 


\.t 


III 


IN  THE  GUKAT  LONE   LaND 


ClIAriER  III. 

SdcTting  Their  Dogs— Various  Methods  of  Breaking  Them 
1,1 — Frank's  Success  by  Kindness  with  Monarch — Sam's 
Troubles  with  Spitfire — Conquered  at  Last — Training  and  Cap- 
turing Dogs  with  Dogs — Alec's  Train  of  Part  Staghounds. 

With  this  question  of  the  old  Indian  ringing  in 
their  ears  the  party  in  the  kitclien  broke  up.  and  as  the 
day  had  been  a  long  one  they  all  soon  retired  to  rest. 

The  boys  were  more  than  delighted  wiih  the  day's 
experience,  and  were  full  of  joyful  anticipation  for 
the  morrow,  for  then  it  was  that  they  were  to  select 
the  dogs  that  were  to  constitute  their  own  trains  and 
at  once  to  begin  the  work  of  breaking  them  in.  So 
long  and  soundly  did  they  sleep  the  next  morning 
that  the  second  breakfast  bell  was  ringing  when  they 
awoke,  and  so  they  had  but  little  time  in  which  to 
dress  ere  breakfast  was  served.  However,  to  their 
joy  they  found  that  others  had  also  overslept  them- 
selves. Even  Mr.  Ross  himself,  who  was  one  of 
these,  declared  that  the  capital  outing  of  the  previous 
day  had  done  him  a  great  deal  of  good,  as  he  had  not 
slept  so  well  for  a  long  time. 

The  events  of  yesterday  and  the  anticipations  of 
the  present  day  were  discussed  with  great  animation. 
The  boys  were  questioned  as  to  the  style  and  disposi- 
tion of  the  dogs  they  each  desired  and  the  methods 
they  intended  to  pursue  in  their  training.  Frank 
wanted  his  to  be  strong  and  powerful,  able  to  carry 
him  over  any  difficult  place  and  able  to  draw  any 
reasonable  load  assigned  him.     Alec's  ambition  was 


riMiiflil 


HMBM 


WiNTKH   AnVIiNTUKKS  OK  TlIUKIC   BoYS 

for  a  swift  train,  that  he  might  have  all  the  fun  and 
excitement  of  rapid  traveling. 

"All  right,"  said  Sam,  "but  give  me  the  darlings 
with  any  amount  of  mischief  and  tricks  in  them. 
Those  are  the  dogs  for  me  !*' 

A  hearty  laugh  from  all  greeted  Sam's  queer  v/ish. 

"I  think,  as  regards  the  tricks,  we  can  easily  satisfy 
you,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  "And  it  will  be  amusing  to  see 
how  a  young  Irish  gentleman  can  circumvent  them; 
for  you  will  find  out,  before  you  get  through  with 
them,  that  tricky  dogs  are  not  only  very  clever,  but 
very  provoking,  in  some  of  their  deeds." 

Mr.  Ross  had  been  very  careful  for  years  in  the  se- 
lection and  breeding  of  his  dogs.  There  is  as  much 
difference  between  good  and  bad  dogs  as  there  is  be- 
tween high-spirited  horses  and  miserably  lazy  ones. 
The  hardy  Eskimo  was  still  the  prevailing  element  in 
his  dogs.  There  were,  however,  many  crosses  with 
some  of  the  finest  breeds  of  civilization,  such  as  the 
English  mastiff,  the  Newfoundland,  and  the  large 
Scottish  staghound.  Dogs  .ire  considered  old  enough 
to  be  broken  to  harness  when  they  have  reached  their 
ninth  month.  They  should  not,  however,  be  ex- 
pected, no  matter  how  willing,  to  draw  very  heavy 
loads  until  they  are  considerably  older.  They  are 
much  more  easily  trained  when  young,  and  are  not  so 
apt  to  be  sullen  and  ugly  as  are  dogs  which  are  only 
broken  in  after  they  have  reached  the  age  of  two  or 
three  years. 

Soon  after  breakfast  and  prayers  an  early  visit  was 

made  to  the  kennels.     The  boys  were  desirous  of 

having  the  pleasure  that  morning  of  giving  the  dogs 

38 


IN  TiiK  Gui:at  Lonk  Land 

tlicir  breakfast.  They  were  very  imidi  surprised, 
liowcver,  when  infornicd  that  the  dogs  were  only  fed 
once  a  day,  and  that  that  one  meal  was  given  to  them 
in  the  evening,  when  their  day's  work  was  done. 
This  information  at  first  aronsed  t'^eir  sympathies 
for  the  dogs,  Init  after  some  experience  they  found 
out  that  tliey  could  not  only  do  much  better  work  on 
one  good  meal  a  day,  but  were  always  in  much  better 
health. 

Some  dogs  submit  readily  to  the  harness  and  never 
give  any  trouble;  others  are  very  obstinate  and  will 
take  any  amount  of  whipping  before  they  will  sur- 
render. Some  that  seem  docile  and  afifectionate 
before  being  harnessed,  when  they  find  themselves 
collared  and  strapped,  develop  the  ferocity  of  wolves 
and  make  the  most  desperate  efforts,  not  only  to  get 
loose,  but  to  attack  their  own  masters.  Mr.  Ross 
had,  after  some  discussion  with  the  boys,  promised 
them  the  privilege  to  do  the  breaking  in  of  their  own 
dogs,  provided  the  animals  did  not  develop  too  ob- 
stinate dispositions,  which  would  require  a  good  deal 
of  punishment  ere  they  would  submit.  Generally  this 
work  was  done  by  the  Indian  servants,  as  many  kind- 
hearted  masters  cannot  bear  to  inflict  the  punishment 
themselves,  which  seems  to  be  necessary  for  some 
dogs  to  receive  ere  their  wills  are  conquered. 

Several  methods  are  used  in  breaking  in  young 
dogs.  Some  trainers  securely  harness  them  up  and 
fasten  them  to  a  sled,  then  vigorously,  by  voice  and 
whip,  keep  at  them  until  they  yield  and  do  what  is 
^  demanded  of  them.  They  must  at  the  first  harness- 
ing be  so  securely  fastened  that  they  cannot  possibly 

.39 


t 


■I        l.ill 


I  If 


IIP 


'    !i 


'i\ ; 


f 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

ill  any  way  squeeze  or  pull  themselves  out  from  the 
harness.  Nearly  all  dogs  at  first  make  desperate 
efforts  to  escape.  If  they  once  succeed  in  doing  so, 
during  the  process  of  training,  they  are  never  abso- 
lutely reliable  afterward.  They  will  occasionally  try 
to  repeat  the  experiment  of  squeezing  themselves 
loose,  and  may  do  it  at  a  critical  place  on  a  long 
journey,  and  thus  cause  annoyance  and  delay. 

One  of  Mr.  Ross's  methods,  which  he  now  sug- 
gested to  the  boys,  was  to  have  an  old  train  of  four 
steady  dogs  harnessed  up  in  tandem  style  and  one  of 
the  young  dogs,  which  was  to  be  broken  in,  har- 
nessed in  between  the  third  and  fourth  dog  of  the 
train.  Frank  was  given  the  first  selection.  He 
chose  a  large,  powerful  dog  that  seemed  to  be  part 
mastiff  and  part  Newfoundland.  He  had  a  fine  head 
and  kindly  eyes.  Frank,  who  was  a  great  lover  of 
dogs,  and  knowing  much  about  them,  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  make  a  visit  to  the  kitchen,  and  now, 
with  his  outer  pockets  supplied  with  broken  bits  of 
meat  and  buns,  he  began  the  work  of  making  friends 
with  this  big,  burly  young  dog,  which  was  hi^  first 
choice.  The  fact  that  only  in  the  evening  were  they 
supposed  to  be  fed  was  quietly  ignored  by  Frank 
just  now. 

Kinesasis  called  him  Ookemou.  This  Frank 
translated  into  Monarch,  and  by  this  name  he  was 
always  called.  Frank  began  his  approaches  by  a 
liberal  use  of  the  contents  of  his  pockets,  and  who 
ever  knew  a  young  dog  proof  against  such  ?n  argu- 
ment?    Growing  dogs  are  always  hungry,  and  will 

take  kindly  to    anyone  who  will  stuff  them.     The 

40 


lit     ii 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Indian  servants  speedily  had  a  train  of  old  dogs 
ready,  with  a  vacant  harness  placed  as  we  have  de- 
scribed. Into  it  Monarch  willingly  allowed  himself 
to  be  harnessed  by  Frank.  The  whole  train  was 
then  fastened  to  a  dog-sled,  and  the  woid  "Marche !" 
was  shouted  by  the  driver.  The  well-trained  dogs 
at  once  responded  and  started  off,  and  as  long  as 
Frank  ran  by  the  side  of  Monarch  the  young  dog  did 
very  well,  but  when  he  dropped  behind  and  sprang 
on  the  sled  wath  the  Indian  driver  Monarch  also 
made  an  effort  to  do  likewise.  This,  however,  he 
found  to  be  an  impossible  feat,  as  the  three  strong 
dogs  before  him  kept  him  on  the  move,  and  so  he 
was  obliged  to  proceed,  which  he  did  very  unwill- 
ingly. Frank  shouted  to  him  to  go  on.  This,  how- 
ever, was  a  great  mistake,  as  the  dog,  at  once  recog- 
nizing his  voice,  and  not  knowing  as  yet  the  meaning 
of  "Go  on,"  would  much  rather  have  come  back  to 
the  one  who  had  so  thoroughly  won  his  friendship. 
Seeing  him  beginning  to  act  ugly  and  obstinate,  the 
Indian  driver  drew  his  heavy  dog-whip  and  was 
about  to  strike  him.  This  Frank  hotly  resented,  and 
so  the  Indian  quickly  recoiled  his  whip  and  quietly 
waited  to  see  w^hat  the  young  wdiite  master  wanted 
to  do.  Frank's  quick  intellect  w^as  at  work.  He 
was  a  wide-awake,  kindly  lad,  with  a  love  for  as  well 
as  a  knowledge  of  dogs,  and  so  when  he  saw  this 
young  dog  so  resolutely  pull  back  at  the  sound  of  his 
voice,  thus  showing  that  he  would  rather  come  to- 
ward him  than  run  from  him,  he  instantly  made  up 
his  mind  that  he  could  be  broken  in  by  kindness  and 

persuasion.     Quickly  he  resolved  upon  his  own  plan 

41 


It 


s 


f 


il 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

of  action.  Ordering  the  Indian  driver  to  stop  the 
train,  Frank  speedily  ran  to  Mr.  Ross  with  an  urgent 
request  for  another  train  of  old  dogs.  Mr.  Ross, 
who  was  at  once  interested  by  the  intense  earnestness 
of  the  lad,  speedily  granted  him  his  request,  although 
as  yet  he  could  not  understand  the  reason  why  two 
trains  were  desired,  where  one  was  generally  con- 
sidered sufficient. 

Very  quickly  did  willing  hands  harness  up  a  train 
of  old  dogs  and  attach  them  to  a  dog-sled. 

"Now,"  said  Frank  to  the  driver  of  them,  "you 
drive  on  ahead  of  that  other  train  and  let  me  ride 
w4th  you." 

Orders  having  been  given  to  the  driver  of  the 
train  in  which  Monarch  was  harnessed  to  follow 
after,  Frank,  who  was  now  on  ahead  and  in  plain 
sight,  began  calling  to  his  dog  to  follow.  To  this 
call  he  at  once  responded,  and  as  the  train  in  which 
he  was  harnessed  was  allowed  to  come  alongside  of 
the  first  Monarch  was  rewarded  by  receiving  from 
his  master's  hands  some  dainty  bits  of  meat.  There 
was  no  trouble  with  him  after  this.  No  matter  how 
fast  the  first  train  was  now  driven,  with  head  and 
tail  up,  on  came  Monarch,  with  as  much  vim  and 
dash  as  the  best  of  the  old  dogs  with  which  he  was 
harnessed.  When  it  was  thought  that  he  had  had 
enough  exercise  for  that  day,  and  as  they  were  about 
two  miles  from  home,  they  rested  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, during  which  Frank  spoke  kindly  to  his  dog 
and  fed  him  with  the  remaining  pieces  of  meat.  Be- 
fore leaving  he  gave  orders  to  the  driver  of  the  train 

in  which  Monarch  was  harnessed  to  wait  until  he 

42 


i:! 


i  Boys 

-  to  stop  the 
ith  an  urgent 
Mr.  Ross, 
e  earnestness 
est,  although 
3on  why  two 
enerally  con- 

jss  up  a  train 

ed. 

f  them,  "you 

1  let  me  ride 

Iriver  of  the 
ied  to  follow 
and  in  plain 
3w.     To  this 
rain  in  which 
alongside  of 
ceiving  from 
neat.     There 
0  matter  how 
ith  head  and 
uch  vim  and 
vhich  he  was 
:  he  had  had 
y  were  about 
a  few  mo- 
ly  to  his  dog 
f  meat.     Be- 
r  of  the  train 
A^ait  until  he 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

and  the  other  train  would  have  time  to  reach  home. 
Monarch,  as  he  saw  the  other  train  leaving,  became 
very  much  excited  and  was  eager  to  follow.  He 
was,  however,  restrained  by  the  driver,  as  were  the 
other  dogs.  All  sleigh  dogs  of  any  spirit  hate  to  be 
thus  left  behind,  and  so  when  the  word  "Marche!" 
was  uttered  they  sprang  forward  with  a  will,  Mon- 
arch being  as  eager  as  any  of  them. 

In  the  meantime,  when  Frank  with  the  one  train 
of  old  dogs  returned  to  Sagasta-weekee,  he  was  met 
with  laughter  and  quizzing  remarks  from  both  Alec 
and  Sam.  Coming  as  he  did  without  his  young 
dog,  they  could  only  imagine  that  he  had  met  with 
complete  failure  and  had  given  up  the  business  in 
disgust.  Mr.  Ross,  however,  older  and  more  expe- 
rienced, after  one  searching  glance  in  Frank's 
triumphant,  satisfied  face,  surmised  something  bet- 
ter, and  so  was  prepared  for  the  lad's  triumph,  which 
soon  came. 

Frank  very  good-naturedly  took  the  guying  of  his 
comrades,  but  his  eyes  were  along  the  trail  made  by 
the  sled  from  which  he  had  just  alighted.  Keen 
was  his  vision  then,  and  alert  his  eye,  and  so  when 
the  coming  train  was  still  far  away  he  knew  by  their 
rapid  pace  that  he  had  triumphed.  Turning  to  Mr. 
Ross,  he  triumphantly  exclaimed : 

"There  they  come,  and  Monarch  as  eager  as  any 
of  them,  and  no  whip  has  ever  touched  his  back,  or 
ever  will." 

It  did  not  take  the  rapidly  advancing  train  long  to 

reach  the  now  interested  group  of  spectators. 

Frank's  triumph  was  complete.     None  could  have 

43 


l! 


't 


U 


;  k 


'^     I 


■  J-     '» 


li'       ^! 


l;li 


l!j|  r 


'!  ! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Imagined  that  the  finest-looking  dog  in  that  train, 
that  bore  himself  so  proudly,  had  that  day  for  the 
first  time  ever  had  a  collar  on  his  neck.  Yet  such 
was  the  case,  and  as  Frank  petted  and  unharnessed 
him  warm  and  sincere  were  Mr.  Ross's  congratula- 
tions. 

From  that  day  forward  Monarch  was  a  model 
sleigh  dog,  and  never  failed  to  respond  to  the  voice 
of  his  new  master,  whose  kindly  tact  had  saved  him 
from  the  lash. 

There  was  still  time  before  lunch  for  another  ex- 
periment or  two,  and  so  Alec  suggested  that  Sam, 
who  wanted  dogs  full  of  fun  and  tricks,  should  make 
the  next  choice. 

Sam,  nothing  loath,  selected  a  handsomely  built 
dog  with  the  queerest  combination  of  colors.  He 
had  a  bright,  mischievous-looking  eye,  and  it  was 
evident  that  he  had  a  good  opinion  of  himself.  His 
small,  erect,  pointed  ears,  his  foxlike  muzzle,  and 
his  ct-rly,  bushy  tail  told  that  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  the  Eskimo  in  him,  and  therefore  until  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  paleface  he  would  not  have  much 
love  for  him.  Sam  soon  found  this  out.  At  Mr. 
Ross's  request  Kinesasis  skillfully  threw  a  lasso  over 
him  and  brought  him  out  of  the  kennels.  This  un- 
dignified procedure  considerably  ruffled  his  temper, 
and  so  when  Sam,  in  sweet  simplicity,  took  up  a 
harness  and  endeavored  to  put  it  on  him  the  dog 
viciously  sprang  at  him  and  buried  his  teeth  in  the 
heavy  moose-skin  mitten  of  the  hand  which  Sam  was 
fortunately  able  to  quickly  throw  up,  thus  saving 

his  face  from  injury.     Mr.  Ross  and  others  sprang 

44 


i'S 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


it  train, 
for  the 
^et  such 
irnessed 
gratula- 

i  model 
le  voice 
^ed  him 

ther  ex- 
it Sam, 
Id  make 

ly  built 
rs.     He 

it  was 
f.  His 
le,  and 
od  deal 
tter  ac- 
e  much 
At  Mr. 
so  over 
his  un- 
temper, 
k  up  a 
he  dog 
[  in  the 
im  was 

saving 
sprang 


forward  to  help  the  lad,  but  Sam's  Irish  was  up,  and 
as  the  lasso  was  still  upon  the  dog's  neck,  and  his 
teeth  had  only  cut  through  the  tough  leather  without 
injuring  his  hand,  he  cried : 

"Please  let  me  have  the  satisfaction  of  conquering 
him  alone." 

Suddenly  throwing  himself  forward,  Sam  seized 
hold  of  the  lasso,  and,  tightening  it  abouc  the  dog's 
neck,  he  quickly  tangled  him  up  in  the  loose  coils 
and  managed  to  throw  him  on  the  snowy  ground. 
Seizing  the  harness,  he  dropped  down  upon  the 
f :  cited,  half-choked  animal,  and,  guarding  his  iiands 
against  his  snappy  teeth,  he  managed  to  get  the  collar 
over  his  head.  But  the  work  was  not  yet  completed, 
and  Mr.  Ross,  seeing  the  danger  the  boy  was  in  of 
being  badly  bitten  by  the  now  furious  animal,  or- 
dered a  couple  of  Indian  men  to  his  assistance.  He 
highly  complimented  Sam,  and  said  that  in  getting 
the  collar  on  such  a  dog  he  had  succeeded  well.  The 
Indians  cautiously  but  quickly  muzzled  the  dog,  and 
then,  letting  him  get  up,  they  fini:'ied  Sam's  work 
of  harnessing  him.  The  next  thing  was  to  get  him 
into  the  train  with  the  other  dogs,  and  this  provec  to 
be  no  easy  matter. 

'Give  him  a  name,"  said  Alec. 

'Spitfire !"  shouted  out  Sam,  and  by  this  name  he 
was  ever  after  known. 

He  seemed  to  have  an  idea  that  his  personal  liberty 
was  being  interfered  with,  and  so  he  resisted  every- 
thing done  by  Sam  or  the  dog-drivers.  When  by 
main  force  he  was  placed  in  position  and  the  traces 
were  fastened  he  made  most  violent  attempts  to  es- 

4S 


tit 


<(( 


M 


1 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


i    \ 


cape.  He  struggled  first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the 
other  in  his  frantic  efforts.  Then  he  tried  to  crawl 
under  and  then  over  the  dog  in  front  of  him.  Failing 
in  this,  he  suddenly  sprang  forward  with  such  force 
that  he  managed  to  seize  hold  of  the  short,  stumpy- 
tail  of  the  dog  in  front  of  him.  This  was  an 
unfortunate  move  on  his  part,  as  the  dogs  that  are 
accustomed  to  work  together  will  readily  fight  for 
each  other  when  one  is  in  trouble.  So  before  Sam 
or  the  Indians  could  interfere,  if  they  had  been  so 
disposed,  the  dogs  ahead  of  Spitfire,  hearing  the  cry 
of  pain  from  their  comrade,  quickly  turned  upon  him 
and  gave  him  a  thorough  shaking.  When  the  In- 
dians thought  he  had  had  enough  they  interfered, 
and  once  more  straightened  out  the  dogs. 

Spitfire  was  most  decidedly  a  saddei  ^^  not  a  wiser, 
dog  as  the  result  of  his  rashness.  But,  poor  fellow, 
his  troubles  were  not  yet  over,  for  the  old  sleigh  dog 
behind  him  was  also  indignant  at  the  attack  upon  the 
tail  of  his  old  comrade,  and  so  he  was  also  resolved 
to  mete  out  some  punishment  to  the  rash  young 
offender.  This  was  just  what  the  Indians  wanted, 
and  so,  telling  Sam  to  jump  on  the  sled  with  them, 
they  shouted,  "Marche !"  to  the  head  dogs,  while  the 
old  fellow  behind  sprang  at  Spitfire. 

At  first  the  young  fellow,  seeing  that  he  could 
not  get  away,  had  resolved  to  balk,  but  when  the  big 
dog  with  fierce  growls  made  his  desperate  efforts  to 
seize  hold  of  him  he  was  glad  to  spring  as  far  away 
as  his  traces  would  permit.  The  result  was  that  be- 
fore he  knew  what  he  was  about  he  was  rapidly  gal- 
loping in  unison  with  the  rest  of  the  train.     Sam 

46 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

kept  him  at  it  until  he  was  so  tired  that  all  the  venom 
and  fight  were  worked  out  of  him.  If  for  an  instant 
he  tried  to  act  ugly  or  break  loose,  all  Sam  had  to  do 
was  to  call  on  the  sleigh  dog  to  attack  him.  This 
was  quite  sufficient  and  Spitfire  surrendered  to  the 
inevitable,  and  in  less  than  three  hours  had  well 
learned  his  first  lesson. 

To  conquer  the  dog's  repugnance  to  Sam,  and  to 
make  them  fast  friends,  Mr.  Ross  had  him,  when 
taken  out  of  the  harness,  fastened  up  in  a  dark  root 
cellar  without  any  supper.  The  next  day  Sam  went 
in  to  bring  him  out,  but  was  met  only  with  savage 
growls. 

**A11  right,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "it  seems  hard  on  you 
for  the  present,  but  it  will  be  better  for  you  in  the 
end;"  and  so  the  heavy  door  was  shut,  and  Spitfire 
had  another  twenty-four  hours  in  solitude  and  quiet 
to  ponder  over  his  ways.  The  next  day,  as  directed 
by  Mr.  Ross,  in  whom  he  had  all  confidence,  Sam 
suddenly  threw  open  the  door,  and,  while  the  dog 
was  still  blinking  in  the  sudden  sunshine  that  poured 
in,  Sam  without  any  hesitancy  or  fear  strode  in  and, 
unchaining  him,  led  him  out  and  up  to  an  abundant 
supply  of  food  and  drink. 

Spitfire  was  conquered,  and  from  that  day  he  and 
Sam  were  the  best  of  friends.  A  few  more  lessons 
in  the  harness,  with  a  growling,  cross  sleigh  dog 
behind  him,  made  him  one  of  the  best  and  fleetest  of 
the  train. 

Sam,  who  was  quick  to  utilize  a  good  thing  when 
he  observed  it,  saw  in  this  dislike  of  this  old  sleigh 
dog  to  having  fresh  young  dogs  ahead  of  him  just 


M.I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  assistance  he  needed;  and  so,  although  he  se- 
lected three  other  dogs,  that  at  first  were  aljout  as 
ugly  and  intractable  as  Spitfire  had  been,  he  was  able 
in  this  way  to  subdue  them  all  with  firmness  and 
patience,  and  he  not  only  made  them  his  affectionate 
friends,  but  he  became  the  master  of  one  of  the  most 
spirited  trains  in  the  country.  They  were  obedient 
and  quick  to  respond  to  Sam's  calls  upon  them,  but 
woe  to  anyone  else  who  tried  to  drive  them  when  the 
spirit  of  mischief  or  contrariness  which  was  in  them 
showed  itself. 

Alec  had  stated  that  he  wanted  a  swift  train  for 
the  fun  and  excitement  of  fast  traveling.  It  was 
fortunate  for  him  that  Mr.  Ross  had  some  young 
dogs  with  a  large  strain  of  the  Scottish  staghound  in 
them.  The  pure  staghounds  are  unable  to  stand  the 
severe  cold  of  the  long  winters,  but  the  mixed  breeds 
at  Sagasta-weekee,  while  retaining  much  of  the 
speed  of  the  staghound,  had  a  rich,  warm  coating  of 
fur-like  hair.  Still,  they  enjoyed  a  warm  blanket 
when  the  weather  was  very  severe.  The  young, 
untrained  ones  were  very  wild,  and  when  Kinesasis 
attempted  to  bring  out  from  the  kennels  a  beautiful 
one  that  he  had  lassoed,  and  which  Alec  had  fancied, 
the  frightened,  agile  creature  jerked  the  lasso  out  of 
his  hands,  scaled  the  walls,  and  dashed  away  over 
the  snowy  fields.  To  have  followed  him  would  have 
been  absurd,  as  the  frightened  dog  if  pursued  would 
have  continued  his  flight  until  he  had  reached  the 
distant  island  wdiere  he  had  spent  the  summer. 
Kinesasis  knew  a  better  plan  than  that,  and  so  he 

quickly  let  loose  about  a  half  dozen  sagacious  old 

48 


IN  TiiK  Great  Lone  Land 

dogs,  trained  by  him  for  such  work,  and  (luietly  told 
them  to  go  ont  and  bring  that  young  wanderer  back. 
Tlie  frightened  dog,  after  running  several  hundred 
yards,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  not  being  followed, 
slackened  his  pace  and  more  leisurely  continued  his 
journey.  He  would,  however,  frequently  stop  and 
look  about  him,  and  especially  back  toward  the  place 
he  had  so  abruptly  left. 

Soon  he  saw  the  dogs  that  Kinesasis  had  sent  out, 
and  that  were  now  gamboling  and  playing  with  each 
other.  He  was  attracted  by  the  sight,  and  stopped 
his  flight  to  watch  them.  They  were  apparently  not 
noticing  him  in  their  sporting  with  each  other,  but 
they  were  nevertheless  drawing  nearer  to  him.  At 
first  he  was  inclined  to  be  suspicious  of  them,  but  this 
soon  left  him,  and  he  seemed  to  become  pleased  to 
greet  them,  as  doubtless  he  had  already  begun  to  feel 
lonesome,  for  the  dog  is  indeed  a  social  animal. 
When  once  he  was  thrown  off  his  guard  it  was  not 
long  ere  the  trailing  lasso  was  seized  by  the  teeth  of 
a  couple  of  the  most  sagacious  dogs,  who  imme- 
diately started  on  the  return  trip.  The  rest  of  the 
dogs  followed  growling  in  the  rear  of  the  runaway. 
When  necessary  they  used  their  teeth  upon  him,  and 
so  they  soon  brought  him,  cowed  and  submissive,  to 
the  hands  of  Kinesasis. 

Tame  elephants  take  great  delight  in  helping  to 

capture  and  subdue  wild  ones,  but  not  greater  is  their 

satisfaction  at  their  successful  work  than  is  that  of 

old  dogs  who  are  trained  to  it  when  they  have  a 

share  in  the  capturing  or  breaking  in  of  obstinate, 

refractory  dogs. 

4  49 


'N 


1^  II 


'h  . 


!  I! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


II 

•    i 

1 

) 

■ 
( 

■  1 

i  i 


1). 


The  boys  enthusiastically  expressed  their  surprise 
as  well  as  admiration  at  this  wonderful  cleverness  on 
the  [jart  of  these  trained  dogs  in  capturing  the 
runaway.  They  were  also  amused  at  their  evident 
delight  at  the  success  of  their  efforts. 

"Yes,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "and  if  that  young  dog  had 
been  able  to  elude  them,  either  by  keeping  out 
of  their  reach,  in  the  first  place,  or  by  slipping  the 
lasso  over  his  head  and  thus  escaping  from  them,  and 
tlicy  had  had  to  return  without  him,  they  would  have 
been  thoroughly  ashamed  of  themselves,  and  would 
have  skulked  off  to  their  kennels." 

"I  have  read,"  said  Frank,  "that  that  is  the  way 
the  St.  Bernard  dogs  in  the  Alps  act  if  they  are 
unsuccessful  in  bringing  any  belated  or  lost  traveler 
back  to  the  monastery,  when  they  are  sent  out  by  the 
monks  to  search  for  any  in  distress.  They  are  very 
proud  if  they  succeed,  but  if  they  fail  to  find  anyone 
they  skulk  back  ashamed  of  themselves  and  sulk  in 
their  kennels  for  a  couple  of  days,  or  even  longer." 

Alec,  taking  advantage  of  the  methods  adopted 
by  both  Frank  and  Sam,  and  other  plans  suggested 
by  Mr.  Ross,  at  length  succeeded  in  breaking  in  his 
four  dogs.  He  had  the  misfortune  to  have  one  of 
them,  on  account  of  his  small  head,  squeeze  himself 
out  of  his  harness  and  escape.  Great  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  capturing  him,  and  then  even  when 
conquered  he  at  times  gave  endless  trouble  by  slip- 
ping his  collar  and  skulking  in  the  rear. 

Another  of  his  dogs,  when  being  broken  in,  made 

the  most  desperate  efforts  to  cut  himself  loose  with 

his  teeth.     He  ruined  in  this  way  some  valuable  har- 

50 


YS 

surprise 
mess  on 
ing  the 
evident 

log  had 
ng  out 
ing  the 
jm,  and 
Id  have 
v^ould 

lie  way 
ley  are 
raveler 
by  the 
'e  very 
inyone 
3ulk  in 
ger." 
dopted 
gested 
in  his 
one  of 
imself 
y  was 
when 
i  slip- 
made 
:  with 
e  har- 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

ness,  and  several  times  cut  the  traces  of  the  dogs  in 
front  of  him.  Having  exhausted  the  patience  of 
Alec,  he  received  a  first-class  whipping  ere  he 
stopped  trying  these  tricks. 

In  about  a  month  the  dogs  were  thoroughly  trained 
and  seasoned  to  their  work.  France  clung  to  Mon- 
arch as  his  favorite,  while  Sam  and  Spitfire  were 
ahnost  insepara])le.  Alec,  true  to  the  romantic  love 
of  his  country,  made  the  runaway  his  favorite  and 
called  him  Bruce.  His  other  three  he  named  Wal- 
lace, Gelert,  and  Lome. 

SI 


i 


t^ 


WiNTKR  Adventures  of  Three  Roys 


CilAl'TKR  IV. 

Numerous  Dogs — Useful  Animals — Food  Supply — Frozen 
Fish — Bringing  Them  Home — Vigorous  Work  for  Boys  and 
Dogs — Frank's  Tumble — Sam's  Ducking — Skating  Parties — 
Alec's  Thrilling  Adventure — The  Race  for  Life — Northern 
Gray  Wolves — Their  Cunning — Their  Various  Stratagems — 
Mr.  Ross's  Fears — The  Search  Party— Alec  Rescued — The 
Wolves  Shot. 

It  may  seem  strange  to  some  of  our  readers  that 
such  numhers  of  dogs  were  kept  by  Mr.  Ross.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  they  were,  in  those  re- 
gions, the  only  animals  in  those  days  that  were  of 
any  use  to  man. 

So  abundant  were  the  fish  that  the  dogs  were  kept 
with  little  expense.  The  lakes  and  rivers  so  swarmed 
with  them  that  a  few  gill  nets  and  an  Indian  could 
easily  take  care  of  a  large  number  of  dogs  during  the 
summer  months.  For  the  winter  supply  an  immense 
number  of  whitefish  were  caught  just  as  the  winter 
was  setting  in.  These  fish  were  hung  up  on  high 
stagings  beyond  the  reach  of  wolves  and  stray, 
prowling  dogs.  So  intense  and  steady  was  the  frost 
that  the  fish,  which  immediately  froze  solid  after 
being  hung  up,  remained  in  that  condition  until  well 
on  into  the  next  April.  Such  a  thing  as  the  tem- 
perature rising  high  enough  to  even  soften  the  fish 
was  almost  unknown.  The  result  was  the  fish  were 
kept  by  this  great  preservative,  the  intense  frost,  in 
prime  condition  for  both  the  people  and  the  dogs. 
On  account  of  their  abundance,  and  the  ease  with 

5-2 


vinter 
high 

stray, 

frost 

after 

well 

tem- 

e  fish 


> 

Xi 

(2 


II    I 


i; 


with 


ii 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

which  they  could  be  obtained,  tliey  were  for  many 
years  the  principal  article  of  food. 

The  Indians  take  but  little  care  of  their  dogs  in 
the  summer  time;  they  literally  have  to  fish  for 
themselves,  and  very  clever  are  some  of  them  at  it. 
So  abundant  are  the  fish,  and  so  clever  are  the  dogs 
in  capturing  several  varieties  that  haunt  the  marshes 
and  shallows  along  the  shores,  that  the  dogs  easily 
secure  sufficient  numbers  to  sustain  life  and  even 
grow  fat  upon.  On  these  fishing  excursions  the 
Indian  dogs  often  wander  over  a  hundred  miles 
away  from  the  wigwams  of  their  masters,  and  are 
gone  for  months  together. 

While  quantities  of  fish  were  being  caught  during 
every  month  of  the  year — for  even  in  the  coldest 
parts  of  the  winter  they  could  be  caught  through 
holes  in  the  ice — yet  the  actual  fall  fishery  season 
only  lasted  a  few  weeks.  On  this  fishery  everybody 
depended  for  their  principal  winter  supply.  It  gen- 
erally began  a  short  time  before  the  ice  set,  and  con- 
tinued about  as  long  after.  The  fish,  which  were 
principally  whitefish,  were  all  caught  in  gill  nets. 
When  brought  ashore  they  were  stabbed  through 
the  flesh  near  the  tail.  Through  this  incision  a 
sharp-pointed  stick  was  inserted.  Ten  were  always 
thus  hung  up  on  each  stick,  with  their  he^ds  hanging 
down.  While  still  warm  a  single  slash  of  a  sharp 
knife  v^as  given  to  each  fish  between  the  gills.  This 
caused  what  little  blood  there  was  in  them  to  drip 
out,  and  thus  materially  added  to  the  quality  of  the 
fish,  and  also  helped  in  its  preservation. 

The  work  of  bringing  these  thousands  of  fish 

S3 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

home  was  done  by  the  dog-trains.  It  is  heavy  work, 
as  each  train  of  four  dogs  was  expected  to  draw 
twenty  sticks  of  fish  at  each  load.  However,  the 
track  was  generally  all  ice,  and  so  it  was  much  easier 
than  traveling  in  a  forest  trail  in  the  deep  snow. 
Six  hundred  pounds  are  considered  a  good  load  for 
four  dogs  on  ordinary  trails. 

As  Mr.  Ross's  fishermen  had  hung  up  about  fifty 
thousand  fish,  besides  packing  a  large  number  of  the 
finest  ones  in  ice  or  snow,  there  was  considerable 
work  for  the  trains  in  dragging  them  home.  The 
work  is  so  steady  that  it  is  considered  capital  train- 
ing for  young  dogs.  Of  course,  they  are  not  at  first 
given  as  heavy  loads  as  are  the  old  trains.  The  boys 
were  allowed  to  go  with  their  trains  about  three 
times  a  week.  This  was  quite  sufficient  for  them, 
for,  although  they  rode  on  the  empty  sleds,  wrapped 
in  a  buffalo  skin,  on  the  outward  trip  to  the  fishery 
camp,  yet  they  felt  in  honor  bound  to  imitate  the 
Indian  drivers  of  the  older  trains,  and  walk,  or 
rather  trot,  as  much  as  they  could  on  the  return  with 
their  heavy  loads. 

The  kind-hearted  Indians,  while  admiring  the 
pluck  of  the  boys  when,  on  the  first  trip,  they  urged 
for  heavier  loads,  wisely  and  firmly  insisted  that 
they  should  take  light  ones  to  begin  with. 

''This  is  only  fun,"  said  Alec,  "just  running  on 
the  ice.  I  have  walked  all  day  in  the  Highlands,  and 
was  all  right  the  next  day.  I  want  a  full  load,  for  I 
intend  to  run  the  whole  distance  on  the  home 
stretch." 

''Twenty  miles  on  ice,  with  some  slipping  and 

54 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


and 


falling  and  managing  a  lively  dog-train,  will  seem  a 
long  journey  ere  it  is  ended,"  said  Mustagan,  a 
grand  old  Indian  who  that  year  had  charge  of  the 
work  of  bringing  home  the  fish. 

Frank  thought  that  with  his  strong  dogs  he  could 
take  more  than  Sam  or  Alec,  but  even  to  this  Mus- 
tagan objected. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "fine  big  dogs,  but  very  young, 
bones  still  soft.    Big  loads  by  and  by,  but  not  now." 

"I  wish  we  had  brought  our  skates,"  said  Sam, 
"and  then  we  would  have  had  no  trouble  in  making 
the  twenty  miles."  This,  it  was  unanimously  agreed, 
was  a  capital  suggestion,  and  one  that  would  be  car- 
ried out  on  future  trips. 

So  in  the  mean-time  they  decided  to  carry  out 
Mustagan's  request  and  only  take  light  loads.  The 
wisdom  of  this  was  seen  before  they  had  gone  many 
miles.  The  gait  at  which  the  old,  experienced  dogs 
struck  out,  and  which  was  kept  up  by  the  drivers, 
as  well  as  by  the  dog-trains  of  the  boys,  was  alto- 
gether too  rapid  for  them. 

Very  gamely  they  kept  up  the  pace  for  four  or  five 
miles,  when  Mustagan  called  a  halt  for  ihe  first  pipe. 
His  observant  eyes  had  been  on  the  boys,  and  while 
he  was  pleased  with  their  pluck,  he  was  too  wise  to> 
allow  them  to  injure  themselves ;  so,  taking  the  mat- 
ter into  his  own  hands,  he  so  arranged  the  sticks  of 
fish  on  their  sleds  that,  with  the  aid  of  the  buffalo 
skins,  he  made  for  each  a  comfortable  seat.  It  is 
not  surprising  that  the  boys  were  willing  to  accept 
of  the  situation,  and,  while  on  the  remainder  of  the 
trip  they  rode  a  good  deal,  they  often  sprang  off  and, 


Winter  y\DVENTURES  of  Three  Boys 


M 


by  the  vigorous  exercises  of  keeping  up  with  the 
Indians  on  their  famous  jog  trot,  kept  themselves 
warm,  and  also  put  in  a  good  deal  of  training  to  fit 
them  for  longer  journeys. 

On  future  trips  to  the  fisheries,  as  long  as  the  ice 
kept  free  of  snow,  they  carried  with  them  their 
skates,  and  not  only  oii  the  home  trip  wi  h  loaded 
sleds,  but  even  on  the  outward  journey,  did  they 
have  some  capital  sport.  Alec  especially  was  a 
splendid  skater.  Com;'ng  from  Scotland,  where  they 
had  so  much  more  ice  than  there  was  in  England  or 
Ireland,  he  had  had  greater  opportunities  for  be- 
coming an  adept  in  this  exhilarating  sport.  He  was 
very  much  amused  at  the  temper  and  annoyance  of 
his  dogs  when,  on  a  fine  stretch  of  smooth  ice,  he 
would  dash  away  from  them  at  a  rate  which  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  keep  up.  They  would  make 
the  most  desperate  efforts  to  travel  as  fast  as  he  did. 
When  they  realized  the  impossibility  of  doing  this, 
hampered  as  they  were  by  their  heavy  load,  they 
would  at  times  set  up  a  most  dismal  cry  that  was 
a  cross  between  a  bark  and  a  howl.  At  other  times 
some  of  the  dogs  would  think  that  one  of  the 
train  was  shirking  his  work,  and  then  they  would 
unmercifully  pile  on  him  and  give  him  a  sound 
thrashing. 

Well  was  it  for  Alec  that  he  had  these  splendid 
skating  trips ;  unconsciously  was  he  preparing  for  a 
race  for  his  life. 

On  one  of  these  home  trips  Frank,  while  sitting 

on  his  load,  wrapped  up  in  his  buffalo  robe,  went 

to  sleep.    He  was  all  right  while  the  sled  was  going 

s6 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


along  in  a  straight  trail,  but  at  one  place  the  road 
turned  at  a  sharp  angle,  and  here  he  had  a  sudden 
awakening.  The  ice  was  firm  and  the  dogs  were 
going  at  a  good  speed.  When  they  reached  the  sharp 
turn  the  sled  slid  around  at  a  great  rate,  and  poor 
Frank,  who  like  the  other  boys  had  when  awake 
securely  hung  on  to  the  straps  on  other  trips,  was 
now  so  fast  asleep  that  nhen  the  sled  flew  around 
he  was  sent  in  the  air  at  a  tangent,  and  then  went 
sprawling  on  the  ice  quite  a  number  of  yards  away. 
He  was  well  shaken  up  and  badly  bruised.  After 
that  he  took  good  care  to  take  his  naps  on  the  sleds 
in  less  dangerous  places. 

Sam  had  a  worse  adventure  than  that.  One  day, 
while  running  behind  and  driving  his  train  and 
cheerily  talking  to  his  dogs,  he  had  the  misfortune 
to  step  through  the  thin  ice  into  an  air  hole.  He 
fortunately  had  presence  of  mind  enough  to  throw 
out  his  arms,  and  so,  as  the  hole  was  a  small  one,  he 
only  went  in  up  to  his  armpits.  That,  however,  was 
quite  enough,  as  the  temperature  was  many  degrees 
below  zero.  Lie  was  speedily  pulled  out  and  cared 
for  by  the  Indian  drivers.  They  quickly  threw  all 
the  fish  from  Alec's  sled,  and,  taking  the  three  buf- 
falo robes  which  the  boys  were  accustomed  to  use 
on  the  outward  trips,  carefully  wrapped  Sam  in 
them,  and  securely  tied  him  on  it.    Then  they  said : 

"Now,  Master  Alec,  here  is  your  chance  to  show 
the  speed  of  your  dogs.  Hang  on  securely  yourself, 
and  see  how  quickly  you  can  make  the  ten-mile  trip 
from  here  to  Sagasta-weekee." 

Alec  needed  no  other  incentive  than  the  desire  to 

57 


H 


:i    \ 


I: 


i; 


Wintp:r  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

get  his  beloved  Sam  home  as  quickly  as  possible. 
The  boys  all  dearly  loved  each  other,  and  a  serious 
accident  to  one  gave  sorrow  to  the  other  two.  The 
cold  was  intense,  and  it  was  necessary  that  Sam 
should  be  taken  home  as  speedily  as  possible.  The 
weight  of  the  two  boys  was  but  little  to  the  active- 
spirited  dogs,  and  so  when  the  sharp  cracks  of  the 
whip  sounded  around  them,  but  not  on  them,  and  the 
urgent  cries  of  "Marche!  Marche!"  with  unusual 
emphasis  kept  ringing  out  from  the  lips  of  their 
master,  they  seemed  at  once  to  realize  that  some- 
thing unusual  was  the  matter ;  and  as  it  was  also  on 
the  home  stretch,  away  they  flew  at  a  rate  that  soon 
left  the  heavily  loaded  sleds  far  behind. 

In  less  than  an  hour's  time  the  distance  was 
covered.  Sam  was  soon  in  the  hands  of  loving,  ex- 
perienced friends  who  knew  just  what  to  do,  and  so 
in  a  day  or  two  he  was  out  again,  none  the  worse  for 
his  adventure. 

The  skating  was  simply  perfect.    Just  fancy  miles 

and  miles  of  ice,  smooth  a^  glass  and  stretching  out 

over  lake  and  river  in  every  direction;  no  pent-up 

little  pond  or  skating  rink  where  in  a  few  hours  the 

ice  is  ruined  by  the  crowd  or  melted  by  the  rising 

temperature.     Here  were  great  lakes  and  rivers  of 

it  that  lasted  for  months.     Lakes  full  of  beautiful 

islands,  whose  shores  not  long  ago  were  lapped  by 

the  murmuring,  laughing  waves,  are  now  gripped, 

as  in  fetters  of  steel,  by  the  Frost  King.    In  and  out 

among  them  glide  the  merry  skaters.    Everybody  'n 

that  land  big  enough  skated,  and  skated  well. 

Jolly  parties  from  the  fur-trading  posts  and  mis- 

S8 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


was 


sion  home  joined  with  others  in  making  merry 
groups,  who  for  hours  at  a  time  engaged  in  this  joy- 
ous and  exhilarating  sport.  Sometimes  several 
young  gentlemen  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  would  come  over  from  the  fort  and  join 
them  in  their  moonlight  excursions.  So  glorious 
were  the  surroundings,  and  so  exhilarating  the 
sport,  that  the  nights  would  be  far  spent  ere  they 
thought  of  returning  home. 

There  seemed  a  strange  fascination  in  seeking  out 
new  places  and  exploring  untried  branches  of  the 
great  rivers,  which  seemed  like  streams  of  molten 
silver  in  the  bright  moonlight  as  they  stretched  away 
into  primitive  forests,  where  the  trees  on  the  shores 
hung  heavy  with  icicles,  or  were  so  bent  under  the 
weight  of  snow  that,  at  times,  they  looked  like 
ghostly  visitants  from  dreamland. 

As  the  days  passed  on  these  skating  excursions 
were  much  more  extended,  and  as  tne  skaters  began 
to  get  familiar  with  the  difterent  routes  the  vigilance 
which  was  at  first  kept  •up,  that  none  might  go 
astray,  was  much  relaxed.  When  there  were  any 
indications  of  a  storm  or  blizzard  it  was  well  under- 
stood that  no  skater  was  to  go  out  alone,  and  even 
then  not  beyond  some  well-defined  landmarks. 
However,  when  the  weather  seemed  settled,  and  the 
sun  shone  brightly  by  day  and  the  moonlight  was 
clear  and  beautiful  at  night,  no  positive  restraint 
was  upon  anyone.  Thus,  day  after  day,  they  mer- 
rily skated  in  little  groups  or  in  pairs  as  they  desired! 
Sometimes  one  would  dash  of¥  alone,  and  for  hours 

amidst  the  weird,  picturesque  surroundings,  such  as 

59 


if 


IH 


'^15 


W 


^  ll'ii 


i        I 


I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

a  skater  alone  can  find  in  such  a  land,  would,  in  the 
very  intoxication  of  his  bliss,  push  on  and  on,  with- 
out any  idea  of  the  progress  of  time  or  of  the  dis- 
tance he  was  traveling. 

To  Alec,  the  Scottish  lad,  there  came  one  beauti- 
ful moonlight  night  an  experience  which  nearly  had 
a  tragic  ending.  The  night  was  one  of  rarest 
beauty,  but  it  was  very  cold,  so  cold  that  Mr.  Ross 
remarked  that  the  moon  looked  more  like  burnished 
steel  than  silver.  As  the  merry  party  started  out  he 
warned  them  to  keep  their  furs  well  around  them 
or  severe  frostbites  would  be  theirs,  in  spite  of  the 
vigorous  exercise  of  rapid  skating. 

The  company  of  half  a  dozen  or  so  kept  together 
for  a  time,  and  then,  in  joyous  rivalry,  shot  out  and 
in  along  the  icy  stretches  between  the  granite,  fir- 
clad  islands  that  on  that  lake  were  so  numerous.  As 
further  they  advanced  they  became  more  and  more 
separated,  until  Alec  found  himself  alone  with  a 
young  clerk  from  the  trading  post,  who  prided  him- 
self on  his  skill  and  speed  as  a  skater.  He  had  been 
considered  the  champion  the  previous  winter,  and 
naturally  wished  to  retain  his  laurels.  Finding  him- 
self alone  with  Alec,  whom  he  thought  but  a  novice 
compared  to  himself,  he  endeavored  to  show  off  his 
speed,  but  was  very  much  annoyed  and  chagrined  to 
find  that,  skate  as  rapidly  as  he  would,  the  Scottish 
lad  kept  alongside  and  merrily  laughed  and  chatted 
as  on  they  sped.  Ruffled  and  angry  at  being  so  easily 
matched  by  Alec,  the  clerk  abruptly  turned  around 
and  skated  back.    Alec  was  at  first  a  little  hurt  bv 

this  discourteous  action,  but  this   feeling  quickly 

60 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

wore  off  as  on  and  on  he  skated,  fairly  entranced  by 
the  beauty  of  his  surroundings  and  the  excitement 
of  his  sport.  After  a  time  he  noticed  that  the  lake 
was  abruptly  ending.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  circle 
around  and  begin  the  return  journey  he  saw  the 
mouth  of  a  beautiful  little  ice-covered  river  which 
ran  up  into  the  forest.  The  ice  looked  so  smooth 
and  was  so  transparent,  as  there  it  lay  in  the  beauti- 
ful moonlight,  and  he  was  so  fascinated  by  the  sight, 
that  he  could  not  resist  the  impulse  to  dash  in  upon 
it.  On  and  on  he  glided,  on  what  seemed  to  him 
the  most  perfect  ice  that  skater  ever  tried.  He  did 
not  appear  to  observe  that  this  glassy,  winding  river, 
on  which  he  ,vas  so  joyously  skating,  was  gradually 
narrowing,  until  he  observed  the  great  branches  of 
some  high  trees  meeting  together  and  cutting  off  the 
bright  moonlight.  Skating  under  these  great  shad- 
owy branches,  with  the  glinting  moonlight  here  and 
there  in  great  patches  of  white  upon  the  ice,  alter- 
nating with  the  shadows,  was  a  new  experience,  and 
very  much  did  he  revel  in  it,  when 

What  sound  was  that? 

It  must  have  been  only  the  falling  of  some  drift 
of  snow  from  an  overloaded  branch,  or  a  broken 
branch  itself,  and  so,  although  Alec  was  startled  at 
hearing  any  sound  amidst  these  almost  noiseless 
solitudes,  he  soon  recovered  his  spirits  and  dashed 
on  along  the  narrowing,  crooked  stream ;  but — there 
it  is  again !  And  now  as  Alec  quickly  turns  his  head 
and  looks  he  sees  what  blanches  his  face  for  an  in- 
stant and  shows  him  the  peril  of  his  position.    Four 

great  northern  gray  wolves  are  skulking  through 

6i 


(    ; 


1        ,    , 

■^ 

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, 

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V 

J  : 
:  i 

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■  1 

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1 

V 

i 


Winter  .Xdventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  sinjw  on  tlie  shore,  and  already  their  eyes  are 
gleaming  in  triumph,  and  their  mouths  are  watering 
for  their  prey.  Quick  as  a  flash  he  turns,  and  so  do 
they.  Well  is  it  now  that  the  sturdy  lad,  on  his 
native  lochs  in  Scottish  winters,  had  practiced  every 
movement,  and  had  become  an  adept  in  twisting  and 
rapid  turning  on  his  skates.  He  will  need  it  all  to- 
night, as  well  as  the  hardened  muscles  of  his  vig- 
orous sports  since  he  came  to  this  wild  North  Land ; 
for  the  wolves  will  not  easily  be  balked  in  their 
efiforts  to  capture  and  then  devour.  The  very  fact 
of  there  being  four  of  them  seemed  at  first  in  his 
favor,  as  the  instant  thiy  turned  they  appeared  to 
get  in  each  other's  way.  In  the  brief  delay  thus 
caused  Alec  was  away  and  was  increasing  his  speed 
every  instant.  But  he  is  not  to  be  let  off  so  easily. 
Looking  behind,  he  sees  that  two  are  coming  on  in 
their  long,  galloping,  speedy  way.  Where  are  the 
other  two  ?    Soon  enough  will  he  know. 

As  we  have  stated,  this  little  river  was  very 
crooked.  The  cunning  wolves  well  knew  this,  and 
so  a  couple  of  them  made  a  short  cut  through  the 
woods,  to  intercept  their  prey  at  a  spot  ahead  of  him. 
As  an  inspiration,  the  quick-witted  lad  took  in  the 
situation.  He  had  heard  much  already  about  the 
cunning  of  these  gray  wolves  in  hunting  in  relays 
the  moose  and  other  species  of  deer,  and  by  having 
some  of  their  numbers  sent  on  ahead  or  stationed  in 
narrow  defiles  to  intercept  their  prey.  So,  suspect- 
ing the  trap  being  laid  for  him,  he  made  up  his  mind, 
if  possible,  to  reach  that  danger  point  before  those 
wolves.    It  was  a  long  sweep  around,  like  a  horse- 

62 


IN  THE  Grkat  Lone  Land 

shoe,  and  he  had  to  make  the  whole  distance  round, 
while  they  had  but  to  cross  the  tongue  of  land.  He 
had  to  traverse  at  least  twice  the  distance  that  the 
wolves  had  to  go,  but  then  he  had  the  advantage  in 
being  on  the  ice,  while  they  had  to  loup  through  the 
snow.  Still,  there  were  no  risks  to  be  taken.  For 
an  instant  the  thoughts  came,  as  he  heard  the  faint 
thud,  thud  on  the  ice  of  the  fleet  wolves  behind  him : 
What  if  anything  should  happen  to  my  skates?  Or 
if  I  should  get  in  a  crack  in  the  ice?  But  he  quickly 
banished  these  thoughts  as  unworthy.  He  had  all 
confidence  in  the  splendid  skates  on  his  feet,  and  saw 
with  delight  that  he  was  emerging  from  the  last 
place  where  the  trees  entirely  hid  the  bright  moon- 
light. Every  crack  and  dangerous  place  could  now 
be  easily  seen  and  guarded  against. 

On  and  on  he  fairly  flew.  The  wolves,  in  spite  of 
their  desperate  efforts  to  keep  up,  were  being  left 
further  and  further  behind.  At  this  Alec  rejoiced ; 
but  his  heart  fairly  jumped,  and  fear  for  an  instant 
again  seized  him,  as  there  sud'lenly  burst  upon  his 
ears  the  blood-curdling  bowlings  of  many  wolve<?. 
It  was  begun  by  those  in  the  rear.  It  was  answered 
by  others  that  seemed  ahead  of  him,  It  was  re- 
echoed back  by  others  that  appeared  to  be  further 
off.  Looking  back,  he  observed  that  the  tw^o  that 
had  been  following  him,  when  they  had  finished 
their  how^lings,  suddenly  disappeared  in  the  forest, 
evidently  bent  upon  some  new  plan  of  attack. 

No  wonder  that  the  plucky  lad  felt  that  this  was  a 

crisis  in  his  life,  and  that  if  ever  he  had  his  wits 

about  him  they  were  needed  now.    As  the  result  of 

63 


M 


V 


i 


W  iNTiiK  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

his  early  teachings,  and  the  memory  of  his  godly 
mother,  there  sprang  from  his  heart  and  lips  a  whis- 
pered prayer:  "God  of  my  mother,  rememher  her 
hoy  to-night ;"  and  he  felt  that  he  was  not  forgotten. 

Like  as  with  fresh  soldiers  on  the  hattle  field,  so 
now,  that  the  first  terror  had  come  and  gone,  a 
«trange  spirit  of  exhilaration  came  to  him,  and 
seemed  to  nerve  him  for  the  race.  He  had  no 
weapon  with  him,  not  even  a  stick  in  his  hand.  His 
wits,  his  skates,  and  his  powers  of  endurance  must 
he  his  reliance  in  this  unique  encounter.  As  well 
as  he  could  he  endeavored  to  recall  the  different 
windings  in  the  river,  and  the  places  where  he  was 
likely  to  be  attacked  later  on,  if  he  escaped  the  spot 
where  he  felt  sure  the  next  effort  would  be  made  by 
his  cunning  foes. 

Rapidly  as  he  was  skating,  his  quick  eye  caught 
sight  of  two  of  his  foes.  They  were  crouching  to- 
gether on  a  snow-covered  rock  that  almost  overhung 
the  edge  of  the  stream  where  it  was  narrowest.  To 
endeavor  to  escape  by  such  fierce  brutes,  now  so 
aroused  by  having  once  missed  him,  would  have 
been  madness.  To  have  retreated  would  have  been 
certain  death.  Quick  as  a  flash  came  the  ruse  to 
Alec.  Dashing  up,  with  a  shout  that  was  a  chal- 
lenge, he  made  as  though  he  were  going  to  fly  by, 
but  the  instant  before  he  reached  the  spot  where  his 
quick  eye  saw  they  would  spring  upon  him  he 
whirled  upon  the  heels  of  his  skates.  That  instant 
they  sprang  upon  the  spot  where  their  instinct  told 
them  he  ought  to  have  been.     He  was  not  there, 

however,  but  a  few  yards  in  the  rear;  so  they  missed 

64 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

him,  and  with  the  inoinentiini  of  their  spring  went 
sprawHng  out  on  the  smooth  ice.  Another  turn  on 
the  skates,  as  quick  as  the  first,  and  Alec  was  by 
them  er.  they  could  recover  themselves.  Thor- 
oughly baffled  and  furious,  they  were  speedily  in 
pursuit,  and  it  required  all  of  Alec's  effort  to  much 
increase  the  distance  between  them  and  himself. 
Several  times  they  cut  across  short  necks  of  the  little 
river,  and  once  so  near  did  they  get  that  the  snap- 
pings  of  their  terrible  teeth  were  distinctly  heard. 
One  long  stretch  more,  then  a  double  twist,  like  the 
letter  S  in  the  river,  and  he  would  reach  the  lake. 

Alec  was  heated  now;  his  clothes  were  wet  with 
perspiration,  in  spite  of  the  bitter  cold.  That  some 
wolves  were  ahead  of  him  he  was  certain.  Home 
was  far  away.  The  other  skaters  had  long  since 
returned  from  their  outings.  Around  the  great 
blazing  fireplace  Mr.  Ross  had  more  than  once  said : 

"I  am  sorry  that  Alec  has  remained  out  so  late." 

Unknown  to  the  rest  of  the  family,  some  hunters 
had  reported  to  him  that  already  tracks  of  wolves 
had  been  seen  in  the  hunting  grounds  not  many 
miles  away.  These  brutes  are  always  very  vicious 
in  the  beginning  of  winter.  Their  summer  supplies 
of  food  are  cut  off,  and  the  deer  have  not  yet  begun 
to  run  and  thus  leave  their  tracks  in  the  woods. 
When  another  hour  had  passed  on  Mr.  Ross  could 
stand  it  no  longer,  and  earnestly  exclaimed: 

"Who  saw  Alec  last?" 

The  young  clerk  who  had  been  last  seen  with  him, 
and  who  had  not  as  yet  returned  to  his  trading  post, 
said: 

»  «» 


/  ^ 


N 


ii> 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

"I  left  him  near  the  other  side  of  the  lake." 

Mr.  Ross  was  indignant,  but  there  was  now  no 
time  for  anything  but  action.  Short  and  stern  were 
his  orders.  Alec  must  be  sought  after  at  once. 
Hastily  rousing  up  three  trusty  Indian  servants,  he 
and  they  were  soon  out  on  the  lake.  All  were  on 
skates  and  armed  with  guns.  A  few  dogs  were  al- 
lowed to  accompany  them,  among  them  being  Alec's 
train.  Mr.  Ross  wisely  judged  that  if  they  once 
struck  his  tracks,  such  was  the  love  they  had  for 
him,  they  would  soon  find  him,  even  if  he  had 
become  bewildered  and  lost  his  bearings.  So,  while 
Alec  was  still  in  danger,  help  was  coming. 

Fortunately  for  him,  the  river  was  wider  now, 
and  his  eyes  were  so  alert  that  he  could  detect  his 
foes,  even  when  quite  a  distance  from  them.  He 
was  thus  able  to  see  through  the  disguise  of  a  couple 
of  them  that  lay  crouching  out  on  the  ice,  trying  to 
look  like  the  little  piles  of  snow  that  the  eddying 
winds  had  gathered.  Still,  although  he  saw  them, 
and  by  another  clever  ruse  flew  by  them,  yet  so 
close  were  they  to  him,  when  they  sprang  at  him, 
that  some  of  the  froth  from  the  mouth  of  one  of 
them  fell  upon  him. 

To  his  surprise,  these  two  did  not  long  follow 

him,  but  sprang  into  the  gloom  of  the  forest  and 

disappeared.    In  the  last  half  of  the  S-like  river  Alec 

was  now  speeding.     He  felt  confident  that  if  he 

could  once  reach  the  lake  he  would  be  able  by  speed, 

and  perhaps  some  quick  dodging,  to  elude  them ;  but 

this  lastf  portion  of  the  crooked  river  troubled  him, 

and  made  him  doubly  cautious. 

66 


M 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


There  is  need  for  it  all,  for  look !  There  are  now 
not  less  than  a  dozen  of  them,  and  they  are  so 
arranged  on  the  ice  and  on  the  shore  that  there  is 
apparently  no  escape.  Those  strange  howlings,  so 
blood-ci?'*dling  and  so  weird,  which  the  first  pair  of 
wolves  uttered  were  understood  by  others,  and  here 
they  are,  ready  and  eager  to  join  in  the  attack  and  to 
divide  the  prey. 

They  seem  so  confident  now,  and  so  loudly  do 
they  howl  that  the  great  high  rocks  echo  back  the 
doleful  music.  To  Alec  it  was  now  the  martial 
music  that  only  sharpened  his  faculties  and  made 
him  more  cautious  and  more  brave.  Boldly  skating 
up  to  them,  he  suddenly  turned,  when  almost  in  their 
clutches,  and  instantly  started  back  up  the  river  as 
rapidly  as  he  could  skate.  On  and  on  he  fairly  flew, 
until,  owing  to  the  bend  in  the  river,  he  was  com- 
pletely out  of  their  sight.  Then  skating  near  to  one 
of  the  shores  he  pushed  on  a  couple  of  hundred 
yards  or  so.  Crossing  over  to  the  other  side,  he 
quickly  turned  to  a  spot  where,  sheltered  by  a  large 
tree,  he  was  securely  hid  in  the  deep  shadow,  which 
was  in  sharp  contrast  to  the  bright  moonlight  near 
him.  In  this  retreat  he  had  not  long  to  wait  ere  he 
saw  the  wolves,  evidently  disconcerted,  but  coming 
on  his  trail.  They  were  stretched  out  quite  apart 
from  each  other,  and  covered  such  a  distance  that  he 
saw  that  those  in  front  would  be  doubling  back  on 
him  ere  all  haci  passed.  However,  he  was  confident 
that  so  suddenly  could  he  dash  out  that,  bv  skillful 
dodging  on  the  glassy  ice,  where  the  wolves  would 

not  have  much  of  a  foothold,  he  could  elude  them. 

67 


N 


1*1 


i 


1 

i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

It  was  a  trying  moment  for  the  boy,  as  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  tree,  whicn  rose  up  directly  out  of 
the  ice,  he  heard  the  measured  steps  and  even  the 
heavy  breathings  of  the  cruel  monsters,  not  fifty 
yards  away.  Fortunately,  there  was  no  wind  to 
carry  the  scent  from  him  to  them,  and  so  they  did 
not  detect  his  stratagem.  When  about  half  of  them 
had  passed,  with  a  dash  and  a  shout  he  was  off.  So 
completely  taken  by  surprise  were  they  that  those 
nearest  to  him  made  no  attempt  to  stop  him.  The 
two  or  three  in  the  rear  savagely  tried  to  block  his 
way  and  sprang  at  him,  but  signally  failed  to  reach 
him,  as  Alec  skillfully  skated  round  them  and  sped 
onward  toward  the  lake.  Furious  indeed  were  those 
that  had  passed  him  and  felt  themselves  robbed  of 
their  victim.  Outwitted  were  they  all,  but  not  yet 
discouraged.  Wolves  can  run  with  great  swiftness 
on  the  smoothest  ice,  and  although,  as  we  have  seen, 
they  cannot  turn  quickly,  and  can  be  dodged  by  a 
clever  skater,  yet  for  a  straight  go-ahead  pace  they 
are  not  to  be  despised  by  the  swiftest  runner.  Then 
their  powers  of  endurance  are  very  great,  and  so  it 
was  evident  to  Alec  that  they  were  resolved,  by  grim 
endurance,  to  run  him  down. 

Firmly  convinced  that  there  were  none  ahead  of 
him,  and  that  it  was  now  to  be  a  long  race,  he  wisely 
resolved  not  to  so  force  himself  that  he  could  not,  if 
need  be,  keep  up  a  good  rate  of  speed  all  the  way  to 
the  abode  of  Mr.  Ross.  It  did  not  take  him  long  to 
again  reach  the  river  mouth,  and  as  he  flew  past  the 
spot  wlrere,  a  few  minutes  before,  his  enemies  had 

waited  for  him  he  could  not  but  see  the  sagacity 

68 


i   ' 


>  I 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


seen, 


with  which  they  had  selected  the  place.  He  was 
grateful  for  his  deliverance  thus  far,  but  he  knew 
that  there  was  no  time  for  investigation,  for  the 
yelps  and  howlings  distinctly  heard  told  him  that 
his  foes  were  hot  on  his  trail  and  not  far  behind. 

Out  on  the  lake  he  dashed,  and  still  on  they  came. 
Alec  is  hot  and  excited  now.  The  strain  on  him  is 
beginning  to  tell,  and  he  feels  it.  He  knows  that 
he  could  put  on  a  desperate  spurt  and  get  far  ahead, 
but  would  they  not,  with  that  long,  steady  louping 
of  theirs,  gradually  creep  up  again,  and,  finding  him 
about  exhausted,  make  a  desperate  spurt,  and  thus 
run  him  down?  But  he  is  resolved  to  succeed,  and 
so  he  nerves  himself  and  carefully  speeds  along, 
while  perhaps  not  five  hundred  yards  behind  are 
those  merciless  pursuers  that  will  not  be  shaken  off. 
In  this  way  about  ten  miles  are  passed  since  the 
mouth  of  the  river  was  left.  Still  on  and  on  they 
come.  The  moon  is  now  sinking  low,  and  the 
shadows  are  weird  and  ghostly.  Auroras,  phantom- 
like, flit  in  the  northern  sky,  while  some  of  them 
seem  like  frightoied  spirits  flying  before  avenging 
enemies.  The  sight  is  depressing  to  Alec,  and  so  he 
turns  his  eyes  from  beholding  them  while  still  on  he 
speeds. 

Hark!  What  is  that?  It  is  like  the  bark  of  a 
dog  that  is  instantly  hushed.  To  Alec  it  seemed  a 
dream  or  an  illusion ;  and  yet  he  could  not  help  put- 
ting on  a  spurt  of  speed  and  veering  a  little  out  of 
his  course  to  see  the  rocky  islands,  surrounded  by 
the  smooth  ice,  from  which  the  dog's  barl^eemed  to 
come.    As  !ie  swiftly  dashed  along,  how  suddenly  all 

69 


■fPj$i^'       ' 


i 

'if 

'n 


iC 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

things  changed  to  him,  and  quick  and  swift  was  his 
dehverance.  There  was  Mr.  Ross  with  his  three 
Indians  and  a  number  of  dogs. 

Alec  was  saved.  He  had  fairly  run  into  his  de- 
liverers. But  no  time  was  to  be  lost.  Fortunately, 
a  high  rocky  island  for  a  moment  hid  the  wolves, 
that  were  now  following  whohy  by  the  scent. 

With  their  double-barreled  guns,  loaaed  with 
balls,  the  three  Indians  rapidly  scaled  the  rocky  isle, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  which  they  would  be  hid  and 
yet  within  easy  range  of  the  wolves  as  they  came 
along  on  Alec's  trail.  Mr.  Ross  and  Alec  had  all 
they  could  do  to  quiet  the  dogs  and  keep  them  still, 
as  some  of  them  were  eager  to  follow  the  Indians. 
Only  a  few  minutes  elapsed,  as  Alec's  spurt  had  only 
put  hmi  a  half  a  mile  or  so  ahead  of  the  wolves, 
when  the  guns  rang  out  once,  and  then  again  as  the 
second  barrels  were  fired.  Let  loose  the  dogs  now, 
and  let  everyone  shout  for  the  rescue  and  the  vic- 
tory! Five  wolves  were  killed  outright,  and  one 
was  so  badly  wounded  that  the  dogs  soon  ran  him 
down  and  dispatched  him.  The  other  wolves  turned 
and  fled.  ^ir.  Ross  would  not,  at  that  hour,  allow 
any  pursuit  of  them. 

The  morning  star  was  shining  ere  home  was 

reached,  and  Alec  was  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

.70 


vas  his 
5  three 

his  de- 
nately, 
A^olves, 

I  with 
ky  isle, 
lid  and 
r  came 
lad  all 

II  still, 
idians. 
id  only 
volves, 

as  the 
s  now, 
le  yie- 
ld one 
in  him 
turned 
,  allow 

e  was 


t 


-I 


o 

<-• 

3 

< 

(^ 

C 
3 

HO 

a 

> 

rt 
ki 


i    ■« 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Invitation  to  the  Indian  School  Examination  and  Sports 
— Trapping  Experiences — The  Cunning  Cross-fox — Frank 
Seeking  Aid  from  Memotas — Method  of  Successful  Trap-set- 
ting— Joyous  Trip  to  the  Mission — An  Abiding  Christian  Civ- 
ilization for  the  Indians — Sam's  and  a  Young  Indian's  Novel 
Hunting  Methods — Wild  Cats  Captured — The  Queer  Battle 
Between  a  Fox  and  a  Wild  Cat. 

When  the  boys  returned  home  from  a  splendid 
outing  on  their  skates  they  were  greeted  by  Mr. 
Hurlburt,  the  missionary  from*  the  Indian  Mission, 
who  cordially  invited  them  all  to  the  half-yearly  ex- 
aminations at  the  school,  which  were  to  be  held  the 
Friday  before  Christmas  in  the  forenoon,  and  then 
would  follow  the  usual  games  among  the  Indian 
boys  in  the  afternoon. 

The  boys  soon  found  that  Mr.  Ross  and  the  mis- 
sionary had  been  long  discussing  the  matter,  but  had 
as  yet  come  to  no  decision  as  to  the  different  games 
in  which  the  white  boys  might,  if  they  so  desired, 
compete  with  the  Indian  lads. 

Alec,  of  course,  wanted  to  enter  for  the  dog- race 
and  the  skating.  Frank  wanted  to  try  his  skill  with 
the  snowshoes,  but  Sam  gravely  shook  his  head  and 
said  he  feared  he  would  be  lonesome  ere  the  race 
ended. 

"Well,  what  will  you  enter  for?"  said  Frank,  as 

he  turned  to  Sam  after  this  sally,  which  had  set 

everybody  laughing. 

71 


I; 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

"Indeed  I  don't  know,  unless  it  should  be  tobog- 
ganing," he  repHed. 

This  also  caused  a  good  deal  of  amusement,  as 
Sam's  efforts  in  this  line  thus  far  had  not  been  much 
of  a  success.  He  had  caused  a  good  deal  of  fun  and 
some  excitement  by  the  extraordinary  way  in  which 
his  toboggan  had  several  times  shot  out  of  the  regu- 
lar route  an  '  -^  mt  off  on  some  erratic  lines,  perfectly 
oblivious  to  ^  ill-rests  of  life  and  limb.  He  had 
one  strong  character'. tic :  he  would  hang  on  no 
matter  which  way  or  to  what  place  his  toboggan, 
under  his  erratic  steering,  flew  with  him.  Once,  in 
the  middle  of  a  hill,  it  shot  off  at  a  tangent  and  ra-i 
over  an  Indian  woman.  So  unexpected  was  the 
attack,  so  deep  was  the  drift  into  which  she  was 
hurled,  and  so  rapidly  did  the  flying  toboggan  get 
out  of  sight,  that  the  poor,  superstitious  old  woman 
ever  after  declared  that  it  could  have  been  no  other 
than  the  Muche  Manetoo,  the  Evil  One,  that  struck 
her. 

As  a  couple  of  weeks  would  elapse  ere  the  day  for 
the  examinations  and  "Sports  would  arrive,  the  matter 
was  left  in  abeyance  as  to  the  sports  in  which  the 
boys  should  enter.  A  cordial  acceptance  of  the 
invitation  was  of  course  intimated. 

In  talking  the  matter  over  afterward  it  was  de- 
cided that  only  in  one  race  or  sport  should  each  of 
the  white  boys  enter.  The  number  was  limited  as 
the  Indian  boys  were  numerous,  and  it  might  per- 
haps cause  jealousies.  So  it  was  finally  decided  that 
Alec  should  try  with  his  dogs  in  the  four-dog  race, 

Frank  should  be  a  competitor  in  the  skating  match, 

72  - 


);■ 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

and  Sam,  with  Spitfire,  should  contend  in  the  one- 
dog  race,  or  else  enter  in  the  skating  backward 
contest. 

From  knowing  the  skill  of  the  Indian  boys  in 
everything  else,  Mr.  Ross  felt  that  in  these  selected 
were  their  only  chances  of  success.  Of  course,  it 
was  felt  that  Alec  should  have  been  in  the  skating 
contest,  but  as  it  was  essential  that  each  owner 
should  drive  his  own  dogs,  and  Alee  had  such  con- 
fidence in  his  now  splendid  team  and  ^  as  so  proud 
of  them,  he  decided  in  favor  of  his  dogs. 

Mr.  Ross's  advice  to  them  all  was  tO  keep  them- 
selves in  good  trim  for  any  sudden  emergency  that 
might  turn  up,  especially  if  it  should  happen  that  the 
young  gentlemen  in  the  Hudson  Jay  Company's 
service  should  decide  to  compete,  or  should  them- 
selves challenge  them. 

Full  of  most  exhilarating  sport  as  had  been  the 
bright  sunny  days  since  winter  had  set  in  nearly  two 
months  before  this,  the  incentive  of  the  coming  races 
gave  a  new  zest  to  their  sports  and  pastimes,  and  so 
there  was  snowshoeing  by  day  as  well  as  rapid  dog- 
traveling  under  auroral  lights  by  night. 

Among    other    things,    it    was    arranged    with 

Memotas  that,  as  his  hunting  grounds  began  not 

many  miles  away  from  the  place  where  Sagasta- 

weekee  was  built,  the  boys  should  have  the  privilege 

of  hunting  in  all  that  section  of  the  country  under 

his  guidance  when  necessary,  and  as  much  alone  as 

they  desired.     Mr.  Ross  secured  for  them  about  a 

dozen  steel  traps  apiece,  and  either  he  or  Memotas 

instructed  the  lads  in  the  methods  of  setting  them  for 

7i 


■i\' 


■mri 


|l<  ! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  different  fur-bearing  animals,  such  as  mink, 
marten,  otter,  wild  cat,  and  especially  for  the  dif- 
ferent varieties  of  foxes  that  were  so  abundant  in 
those  regions.  In  addition  to  this  they  were  taught 
how  to  make  the  spring  snares  of  fine  twine  for 
rabbits  and  partridges.  Thus  they  learned  much 
of  the  habits  and  instincts  of  various  animals,  and 
were  delighted  and  j^rofited  by  these  lessons  learned 
out  in  the  school  of  nature,  amidst  such  favorable 
surroundings. 

When  the  boys  saw  the  great  number  of  tracks  of 
the  various  wild  animals  that  so  speedily  packed 
down  the  snow  in  runs  in  various  directions  through 
the  forests,  they  were  sanguine  that  great  success 
would  attend  their  hunting  efforts.  But  as  they 
drove  in  day  after  day  with  nothing  more  valuable 
than  some  rabl)its  or  a  few  ptarmigan,  or  some  other 
kind  of  partridges,  they  were  half-discouraged,  and 
told  Mr.  Ross  .they  were  surprised  at  their  poor 
success. 

Frank  was  especially  mortified  at  his  ill  success. 

He  had  for  days  set  his  trap  for  a  beautiful  cross-fox 

that  he  had  once  or  twice  seen.     Nearly  every  day 

he  found  his  traps  sprung  and  the  bait  gone.     That 

it  was  the  same  fox  Frank  discovered  by  the  fact 

that  he  had  lost  part  of  one  of  his  hind  feet.     This 

Mr.  Ross  said  doubtless  happened  long  ago  in  the 

trap  of  some  hunter.     The  fox  had  not  been  quick 

enough  to  spring  away,  and  had  thus  been  caught 

by  part  of  his  foot.     If  it  were  in  the  winter  time 

when  he  was  thus  caught  he  doubtless  ate  the  part 

of  the  foot  that  was  held  in  the  teeth  of  the  trap 

74 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ime 
part 
trap 


without  feeli'ig  any  sensation  of  pain,  as  the  cold 
would  quickly  freeze  it  solid.  If  he  were  caught  in 
the  summer  time  he  would  use  the  most  desperate 
efforts  to  pull  himself  loose  ere  he  would  use  his 
teeth,  and  then,  of  course,  he  would  suffer  much  in 
the  operation.  Hence  in  the  winter  time  a  fox,  as  a 
general  thing,  if  only  caught  by  one  foot,  cuts  him- 
self off  in  a  few  hours,  hut  in  summer  time  he  has 
been  known  to  remain  in  a  couple  of  days.  Indians 
often  talk  of  clever  three-legged  foxes  in  the 
woods. 

One  pleasant  day  Frank  persuaded  Memotas  to  go 
out  with  him  a;id  help  him  set  his  traps  for  that  old 
fox  that  had  so  long  tantalized  him  by  his  tricks  and 
was  getting  fat  on  his  bait.  This  the  old  man  did 
with  pleasure,  for  he  had  become  very  much  attached 
to  Frank.  When  they  reached  the  place,  to  which 
they  had  come  on  Frank's  dog-sled,  the  Indian  very 
carefully  examined  the  region  around  for  quite  a 
distance.  He  told  Frank  where  the  fox's  den  was, 
and  said  that  now  that  he  had  become  so  well 
acquainted  with  Frank  perhaps  a  stranger  might  get 
hold  of  him.  He  asked  Frank  to  show  him  how  he 
had  generally  set  his  traps  that  had  been  so  uncer- 
emoniously sprung  and  robbed  of  the  bait.  This 
Frank  proceeded  to  do,  and,  as  he  thought,  very 
quickly  and  cleverly  sprung  back  and  baited  them. 
Memotas  watched  him  go  through  all  the  process, 
and  then  rather  coolly  took  him  down  by  saying : 

"Good  trap,  well  set,  plenty  of  bait;  might  perhaps 
catch  a  puppy  or  old  crow,  but  never  fox." 

This  seemed  rather  rough  on  Frank,  and  he  was 

75 


i 


(Qa 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

glad  that  Sam  was  not  there  to  improve  the  occasion 
with  some  further  caustic  remarks. 

When  the  Indian  saw  that  Frank  seemed  so  crest- 
fallen at  his  comments  he  at  once  hastened  to  assure 
him  that  they  all  had  to  learn  much  about  these 
animals,  and  now  he  said : 

"You  and  I  will  go  to  work  and  see  if  wc  cannot 
get  that  fox  in  a  trap  again,  even  if  his  half  foot  tells 
us  he  has  been  there  before." 

The  first  thing  they  did  was  to  decide  where  to  set 
the  traps. 

"Not  much  hurry,  though,  about  that,"  said  Me- 
motas.  "We  must  first  have  a  fire  to  burn  all  of 
Frank  off  the  traps." 

This  was  a  bit  of  a  puzzle  to  Frank  at  first,  but 
when  Memotas  told  Frank  that  every  time  he 
handled  a  trap  or  a  bit  of  bait  he  left  enough  of 
himself  on  it  for  the  fox  to  know  all  that  he 
wanted  to  about  him  it  was  more  unintelligible  than 
ever. 

At  a  spot  about  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  away 
from  where  the  traps  were  to  be  set  a  fire  was  built. 
When  it  was  brightly  burning  Memotas  cut  a  long 
pole,  and  then,  springing  or  setting  the  trap,  had 
Frank  fasten  a  good-sized  piece  of  meat  as  bait 
securely  on  with  a  fine  wire. 

"Now,"  said  Memotas,  as  he  carefully  lifted  up 
the  set  trap  on  the  end  of  his  pole,  "we  will  burn  old 
Injun  and  Frank  off  that  trap  and  bait." 

Then  he  held  the  trap  in  the  fire  until  the  meat 

fairly  sizzled  and  the  steel  trap  was  quite  hot. 

"Guess  all  Injun  and  Frank  now  have  gone  up  in 

76 


I 


IN  THE  Grkat  Lone  Land 


I. 


i 


smoke,  so,  Mr.  Fox,  you'll  not  find  us  when  you 
come  skulking  round  this  trap,  anyway." 

The  old  man  chuckled,  and  Frank  now  understood 
what  he  had  meant. 
*      Memotas  walked  very  carefully  to  within  some 
yards  of  the  spot  where  he  had  decided  to  place  the 
trap.     Again  addressing  Frank,  he  said: 

"We  must  not  even  walk  there,  for  if  we  did  we 
should  leave  some  more  of  ourselves  through  our 
moccasins,  and  Mr.  Fox  would  then  be  too  sharp 
for  us." 

Giving  Frank  the  pole  with  the  trap  on  it  to  hold 
for  a  few  minutes,  the  old  man  quickly  moved  back 
to  a  spot  where  some  tall,  slender  live  balsams  were 
growing.  Cutting  one  down,  he  trimmed  off  all  the 
branches  except  a  mere  broomlike  tuft  at  the  top, 
taking  care  all  the  time  not  to  touch  any  of  those 
remaining  with  his  hands.  Returning  with  this 
long,  broomlikc  affair,  he  vigorously  used  it  on  a 
spot  some  yards  away.  Then  he  took  the  long  pole 
from  the  hands  of  Frank,  and  there  in  that  place, 
thus  brushed  out,  he  carefully  and  skillfully  laid  the 
trap.  Then  with  the  long  brush  he  deftly  swept 
back  a  thin  layer  of  snow  over  the  trap  and  bait. 

"Now,  Frank,"  he  said,  *'set  the  rest  of  your  traps 
as  you  have  been  doing  these  past  days,  but  do  not 
f  o  near  that  one  we  have  just  arranged." 

This  operation  was  soon  performed  by  Frank  in 
the  different  places  suggested  by  Memotas.  In 
carefully  investigating  these  spots  the  fox  would  be 
apt  to  get  caught  in  the  one  that  had  in  it,  as  the  old 

fellow  put  it,  "no  Frank  or  no  Injun." 

77 


-jy^y.H— «*^ 


i 


M 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

By  a  roundabout  route  they  started  for  home.  At 
nearly  every  place  where  Frank  had  set  his  snares 
for  rabbits  or  partridges  he  was  successful  in  finding 
game.  At  a  couple  of  places  the  snares  themselves 
were  ^^one  and  the  snow  was  badly  trampled  down. 
Here  Memotas's  knowledge  came  into  play,  and  he 
shovyed  Frank  where  a  wild  cat  had  seized  a  rabbit 
just  as  it  had  sprung  into  the  snare,  and  then  both 
had  struggled  and  the  spring  pole  had  been  dragged 
twenty  feet  or  so  before  the  strong  twine  had  been 
broken.  In  another  place  the  feathers  strewn 
around  showed  where  a  fox  had  been  too  quick  for 
Frank  and  had  taken  the  partridge  which  had  been 
caught. 

Thus  they  pushed  on,  and  at  length  reached  home. 
A  good  dinner  awaited  them,  and  then  Frank  har- 
nessed up  his  dogs  again,  and,  hitching  them  to  a 
beautifully  painted  cariole,  took  Wenonah  and 
Roddy  out  for  a  splendid  ride.  The  day  was  cold 
but  brilliant.  The  little  folks  were  well  wrapped 
up  in  their  beautiful  furs,  and  so  the  drive  over  to 
the  mission  and  back  was  much  enjoyed. 

At  the  mission  house  they  went  in  for  a  short  call 

on  the  family,  where  they  were  always  welcome.    As 

they  could  not  remain  for  dinner  a  five-o'clock  tea 

was  quickly  prepared  and  much  enjoyed.     When 

about  to  begin  a  great  jingling  of  bells  was  heard 

outside,  and  to  the  delight  of  all  in  came  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Ross,  who  had  been  driven  over  by  Alec  and 

Sam.     It  seems  the  boys  had  both  returned  from 

their  hunting  routes  shortly  after  Frank  had  left 

with  the  two  children.     After  a  hasty  lunch  they  had 

78 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

coaxed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  to  let  them  drive  them 
over,  and  so  a  couple  of  carioles  were  soon  attached 
to  their  different  trains.  Plenty  of  robes  were  put 
in,  and  now  here  they  all  were,  and,  as  always,  were 
most  cordially  welcomed. 

They  spent  a  couple  of  hours  with  the  members  of 
this  delightful  family,  who  here  as  missionaries  were 
doing  such  a  blessed  work,  even  if  it  were  one  of 
self-denial  and  at  times  sufferings.  But  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hurlburt,  their  two  young  daughters,  and  Miss 
Adams,  the  lady  teacher,  were  so  proud  of  the  In- 
dians, and  of  tneir  genuine  kindly  ways,  that  they 
were  happy  and  contented  with  their  lot. 

During  the  l^rief  two  hours  spent  at  the  home  this 
afternoon,  as  w-ell  as  on  many  other  occasions,  the 
boys  had  opportunities  to  see  evidences  of  their  kind- 
nesses and  tangible  love  to  the  sick  and  hungry  ones 
who  looked  so  much  to  them.  Not  only  did  they 
find  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  real  friends  to  help  them, 
but  by  their  very  substantial  contributions  they  made 
the  missionary  and  his  family  the  almoners  of  many 
gifts  much  needed  by  the  poor  Indians. 

Genuine  Christians  themselves,  the  owners  of 
Sagasta-weekee  did  much  to  help  in  the  spiritual  up- 
lifting of  the  people  from  the  degradation  and  super- 
stitions of  a  cruel  paganism  into  the  blessedness  and 
enjoyments  of  a  genuine  Christianity  and  an  abiding 
civilization. 

The  time  quickly  sped  by.  They  had  some  earnest 
chat,  a  few  delightful  hymns  and  songs  of  the  home- 
land, and  then  a  brief  but  earnest  prayer  for  Heaven's 

blessing  on  loved  ones  far  away,  upon  themselves  in 

79 


i 


ti 


'.it 


II 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

that  land  and  th'^ir  different  work,  and  also  upon  the 
Indians. 

Then  the  dogs  were  roused,  the  carioles  arranged, 
and  the  passengers  were  soon  all  aboard.  The  boys 
took  their  places  firmly  standing  on  the  tailboards  of 
the  sleds  that  projected  in  the  rear.  Grasping  the 
tailropes,  with  which  they  held  themselves  on  and 
guided  their  carioles,  simultaneously  they  cried, 
"Marche!"  and  with  a  spring  they  were  all  off 
together. 

They  had  three  splendid  trains  and  were  not  badly 
matched  for  a  short  spurt.  So  amidst  shoutings 
and  laughter  in  the  beautiful  gloaming  of  that  lovely 
evening  they  fairly  flew  over  the  icy  expanse  of 
Playgreen  Lake.  But  blood  will  tell,  and  it  was 
soon  evident  that  although  Alec  had  Mr.  Ross  as  his 
passenger,  and  therefore  the  heaviest  load  of  the 
three,  he  was  surely  forging  ahead.  With  those 
long,  houndlike  legs,  these  round-barreled,  small- 
headed,  keen-eyed  dogs  need  not  take  any  second 
place  in  that  crowd,  and  so  it  is  that,  catching  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  hour,  and  springing  in  unison  with 
each  other,  they  respond  to  Alec's  cheery  call,  and 
seem  to  pick  themselves  up  and  so  fly  over  the  rest  of 
the  route  to  Sagasta-weekee  that  in  placing  them  all 
that  could  be  said  was,  "Alec  first,  the  rest 
nowhere." 

"Well  done.  Alec,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  as  he  sprang 

out  of  the  cariole.     'Tf  you  equal  the  speed  of  the 

last  two  or  three  miles  in  the  race  with  the  trains  of 

the  village  and  the  fort,  I  think  the  blue  ribbon  of 

first  place  will  be  yours.     But  where  is  your  cap  ?" 

80 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Happy  Alec!  He  had  been  so  excited  with  the 
splendid  speed  of  his  dogs,  and  the  perfect  unison  of 
their  movements,  that  he  did  not  seem  to  be  con- 
scious of  the  fact  that  the  capote  of  his  overcoat  was 
hanging  down  his  back  and  that  his  cap  had  left  him 
a  mile  or  two  back  on  the  ice.  However,  his  abun- 
dant curly  locks  had  been  sufficient  for  him  during 
the  excitement  of  that  blood-stirring  race.  He 
speedily  pulled  up  the  capote  over  his  head,  and  Sam, 
who  had  seen  his  cap  fall  and  had  hastily  snatched 
it  up  as  his  cariole  flew  by,  now  came  up  and  restored 
it  to  him. 

Frank,  with  the  children,  was  the  last  in.  His 
heavy  dogs,  while  the  strongest,  were  not  so  adapted 
for  rapid  traveling  as  the  others. 

"Well,  we  had  the  longest  ride,"  said  Roddy;  "you 
folks  went  so  fast  you  did  not  have  such  a  nice  long 
time  as  we  did." 

This  happy  way  of  looking  at  it  pleased  every- 
body, and  all  voted  Roddy  to  be  a  philosopher. 

The  Indian  servants  had  the  dog-fish  all  ready, 
and  so  it  was  not  long  ere  the  twelve  dogs  were 
enjoying  their  well-earned  supper. 

When  they  had  all  entered  the  house  the  boys,  as 
usual,  were  anxious  to  know  of  each  other's  success 
during  the  day.  Not  only  had  Frank,  as  we  have 
described,  gone  out  to  his  traps,  but  Sam  and  Alec 
had  also  driven  some  miles  to  the  places  where  they, 
apart  from  each  other,  were  also  trying  their  skill 
in  trapping  various  kinds  of  fur-bearing  animals. 

Sam  had  gone  out  for  several  days  past  in  com- 
pany with  a  son  of  Memotas.     He  was  a  bright 
6  & 


Wti 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

young  fellow,  and  he  and  Sam  had  suddenly  becofnc 
very  confidential.  It  was  evident  that  they  had 
some  great  scheme  on  between  them.  What  it  was 
nobody  seemed  quite  able  to  make  out,  and  so  their 
curiosity  was  much  excited,  especially  when  Sam 
had  been  seen  in  close  converse  with  the  cook,  and 
had  then  after  a  hasty  visit  to  the  cellar  hurried  away 
with  young  Memotas.  To  make  matters  worse, 
Sam  had  dropped  a  couple  of  large  onions  ere  he 
reached  his  sled.  Then  one  of  the  maids  said  she 
heard  him  asking  the  mistress  if  she  had  any  oil  of 
bergamot,  and  if  there  was  any  castoreum  left  in  the 
house.  They  did  not  get  much  information  from 
him  that  night,  and,  strange  to  say,  he  was  the  first 
one  after  dinner  that  proposed  bed.  Before  daylight 
a  trusty  servant  called  him,  as  Sam  had  desired,  and 
even  then,  early  as  it  was  when  he  came  down,  young 
Memotas  was  there  awaiting  him. 

Mrs.  Ross  insisted  that  both  Sam  and  young  Me- 
motas should  have  a  good,  warm  breakfast  ere  they 
started  out.  It  is  very  darii  .m  <  -us  indeed  to  start  off 
in  the  morning  without  a  good,  warm,  generous 
meal.  While  the  two  boys  were  eating  their  break- 
fast a  trusty  Indian  called  out  Sam's  dogs,  and  now 
there  they  stood  longing  to  be  off.  They  did  not 
return  until  the  afternoon,  and  then  they  proudly 
brought  in  two  prime  wild  cats  which  they  had 
captured.  Sam  that  evening  told  how  that  he  and 
young  Memotas  had  found  the  tracks  of  them  some 
days  before,  and  that  they  had  been  busy  ever  since 
making  a  dead  fall,  and  the  last  day  or  so  they  had 

beeti  decoying  them  to  the  place  by  the  scent  of 

82 


I 

[I 


ii 


4 


IN  THE  Great  Loise  Land 

onions.  Tliis  would  bring  them  into  the  vicinity  of 
the  trap;  but  he  said  that  he  remembered  reathng 
somewhere  that  some  arimals  were  attracted  by  ber- 
gamot,  and  so  he  begged  a  Httle  from  Mrs.  Ross,  and 
sure  enough  there  the  two  wild  cats  were  securely 
caught.  The  weight  of  the  logs  had  been  increased 
by  heavy  stones,  and  so,  lie  added,  "The  animals 
were  quite  dead  when  we  reached  them.  As  there 
were  other  tracks  around  we  have  been  busy  ever 
since  making  traps  of  the  same  kind." 

Alec  had  not  accomplished  much  l^eyond  finding 
the  frozen  part  of  the  hind  foot  of  a  marten  in  one  of 
his  steel  traps.  He  noticed  which  way  the  animal 
had  gone,  and  so,  taking  a  couple  of  dogs  out  of  his 
sled,  he  put  them  on  the  trail,  and  to  his  surprise  and 
delight  they  quickly  ran  it  down.  He  rescued  it 
from  them  as  speedily  as  possible.  It  was  quite 
dead,  but  its  beautiful  fur  was  uninjured. 

Frank  was  eager  to  be  off  again  with  old  Memotas 
to  see  the  result  of  the  new  method,  to  him,  of  trap- 
setting  for  a  cunning  old  fox.  But  Memotas,  whc. 
was  wise  and  experienced  himself,  said  : 

"Wait  one  day  more  yet.  That  old  fox  not  going 
to  walk  into  that  trap  the  first  day,  nor  perhaps  the 
second  day.  You  have  been  well  feeding  him  on 
plenty  of  bait,  and  he  not  a  bit  hungry.  But  when 
he  get  hungry  perhaps  he  go  prowling  round  to  see 
if  his  friend  hasn't  come  with  any  more  bait  for  him. 
For  foxes  get  to  know  traps  that  seem  just  set  for 
them  to  live  from." 

This  was  all  rather  hard  on  Frank,  but  he  had  come 

to  see  that  it  was  all  true,  and  so  he  patiently  waited 

83 


# 


fl! 


m 


i 


m 


i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

until  the  old  man  came  in  and  said  he  thought  per- 
haps they  might  go  and  see  if  that  fox  was  still 
playing  any  of  his  tricks.  The  train  was  soon  har- 
nessed, and  away  they  flew  over  the  icy  lake,  and 
then  into  the  forest  trail.  On  and  on  they  went, 
until  they  came  near  the  spot  where  the  traps  had 
all  been  set.  Every  one  that  Frank  had  set  was 
sprung  and  empty,  and  the  one  that  Mcmotas  had 
set  wit'i  such  care  was  missing!  Nowhere  could 
Frank  see  it  or  any  trace  of  it.  Memotas  quickly 
stepi^ed  out  a  hundred  feet  or  so,  and  then  began 
walking  in  a  circle  around  the  spot.  He  had  not 
more  than  half  completed  the  circle  before  he  quickly 
called  to  Frank,  who  at  once  hurried  to  his  side. 
Pointing  to  a  peculiar  spot  in  the  snow  that  had  been 
much  disturbed,  Memotas  said : 

"I  ''hink  fox  caught  with  ijoth  fore  legs  in  the 
trap.  He  is  now  walking  away  on  his  hind  legs  and 
holding  up  the  trap  in  his  mouth.  See,  there  he  walk 
on  two  legs!  See,  there  he  rest!"  And  the  old 
man  began  to  hurry  on,  closely  followed  by  Frank, 
to  whom  he  explained  every  movement  the  fox  had 
made. 

*'Must  be  a  fine  big  fox  to  get  away  so  far  with 
the  trap  on  both  fore  feet,"  said  Memotas.  "But 
listen  I" 

A  strange  siarling-like  sound  fell  on  their  ears, 

and  with  it  something  like  the  ^erce  yelping  of  a 

fiery  young  dog.     ^Memotas  had  quickly  dropped 

flat  on  the  ground  in  the  snow,  and  Frank  crouched 

beside  him.     The  old  man  whispered  to  Frank  to 

give  him  his  long  hunting  knife. 

84 


■   I 


■i 


,^^^':^«->:,/V;}'y 


s^''-„':iK 


IN  TiJE  Great  Lone  Land 


'But 


I 


1    i 


"Some  other  animal,  wild  cat  perhaps,  meet  fox, 
and  they  fighting.  Keep  still,  1  must  go  back  to  the 
sled  for  the  gun." 

Without  making  the  slightest  noise  the  old  man 
glided  hack,  and  was  soon  lost  to  sight. 

Fortunately,  there  was  a  dense  clump  of  evergreen 
balsam  or  spruce  trees  between  the  contending  ani- 
mals and  Frank.  Then  they  were  so  absorbed  in 
their  own  quarrel  that  they  were  not  very  alert  in 
watching  for  others.  However,  Frank  knew  enough 
to  keep  perfectly  still,  although  he  confessed  he 
clutched  the  knife  several  times  more  firmly  as  the 
blood-curdling  snarls  of  the  wild  cat  pierced  the  air 
so  near.  Soon  Memotas  was  back  again,  and  then 
the  question  was  to  get  a  successful  shot  at  the  wild 
cat,  as  it  was  evident  the  fox  was  sure  enough.  At 
first  Memotas  crawled  forward  closer  to  the  trees, 
the  branches  of  which,  laden  down  with  snow, 
reached  to  the  ground  all  around.  Carefully  peer- 
ing through  the  dense  branches,  he  gaxed  intently 
for  a  time,  and  then  he  silently  beckoned  Frank  to 
come.  Noiselessly  he  crawled  up  beside  Memotas, 
and  after  his  eyes  had  become  accustomed  to  the 
work  he  was  able  to  see  the  two  animals  not  more 
than  two  hundred  feet  away.  The  two  fore  legs  of 
the  fox  were  securely  fastened  in  the  steel  trap, 
which  seemed  to  have  closed  on  him  about  four 
inches  up  from  his  feet.  The  wild  cat  was  a  fierce 
old  male,  and  was  doing  his  best  to  get  a  good  grip 
on  the  fox.  This  the  fox  was  resolved  not  to  let 
him  have,  and  so  he  kept  his  face  toward  his  foe, 

and  whenever  the  latter  would  spring  at  him  the  fox 

8s 


1 


In 


J 


I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

would  suddenly  raise  himself,  and,  throwing  up  the 
trap  so  securely  fastened  on  his  fore  legs,  would 
bang  it  down  with  a  whack  on  the  head  of  the  wild 
cat.  With  a  snarl  the  cat  would  suddenly  back  off 
and  arch  up  his  back  and  snarl  worse  than  ever.  It 
was  the  queerest  battle  that  Memotas  had  ever  wit- 
nessed, and  every  time  the  trap  rattled  on  the  head 
or  body  of  the  wild  cat  the  old  man  fairly  quivered 
with  excitement  and  delight.  To  Frank  the  sight 
was  also  the  oddest  and  queerest  he  had  ever  even 
heard  of.  At  one  skillful  parry  the  fox,  although  so 
terribly  handicapped,  was  able  to  give  the  cat  a 
whack  that  sent  him  fairly  sprawling  in  the  snow. 
At  the  sight  of  this  Frank  had  to  crowd  his  fur 
mitten  into  his  mouth  to  prevent  him  from  fairly 
shouting  out : 

"Well  done,  old  fox!" 

Why  they  remained  so  in  this  one  open  place, 
Frar.k  now  saw,  was  because  the  fox  was  fearful 
that  if  he  got  in  among  the  fallen  logs  or  the  rocks 
the  wild  cat  would  have  the  advantage,  and  thus 
succeed  in  springing  upon  his  back,  while  he,  so 
hampered,  could  make  but  little  resistance.  All  at 
once  Frank  saw  the  animals  cease  both  the  attack 
and  their  noises.  Memotas,  quick  and  alert,  sud- 
denly brought  his  gun  into  position,  and  the  next 
instant,  as  Frank  heard  the  jingling  of  distant  bells, 
there  also  rang  out  the  report  of  the  gun,  and  the 
wild  cat  tumbled  over  dead. 

Springing  up,  Memotas  called  Frank  to  follow, 

and  together  they  quickly  hurried  after  the  fox,  that 

was  now  again  desperatelv  striving  to  get  away. 

86' 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Memotas  did  not  wish  to  injure  the  valualj":  skin  l)y 
piercing  it  with  a  ball,  and  so,  picking  up  a  heavy 
clublike  branch  of  a  tree,  he  quickly  killed  the  fox 
without  breaking  the  skin. 

A  few  minutes  after  Alec  drove  up  along  the  trail. 
He  had  visited  his  traps  and  snares,  and  had  decided 
to  take  this  trail  on  his  way  home.  His  bells  were 
the  ones  heard  by  the  two  fighters.  Well  was  it 
that  Memotas's  quick  ears  also  heard  them,  and  that 
he  was  able  to  fire  before  the  wild  cat  had  fled  into 
the  forest. 

They  were  soon  all  on  their  way  home  again.  The 
fox  was  a  great  beauty,  and  although  it  was  a  cross, 
yet  it  was  so  nearly  black  that  a  large  sum  was  given 
for  it. 

For  many  a  day  after  Frank  talked  and  laughed 

about  that  oddest  of  all  fights,  the  one  between  the 

trapped  fox  and  the  fierce  old  wild  cat. 

87 


•iv 


Ir   I 


!{ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Winter  Birds  of  the  Great  Lone  Land — The  Whisky 
Jack — The  Ptarmigan — Their  Beds  in  the  Snow — Mission 
Visits — Cupid's  Darts — The  Wood  Supply — Primitive  Way  of 
Capturing  Partridges — Great  Snowy  Owls — Methods  of  Cap- 
ture— Sam's  Experience — The  Fearful  Grip  of  the  Owl's  Claw. 


'Where 


birds?"  said  Sam  one 


e  your  singing 
morning  as  he  came  in  from  having  taken  Wenonah 
and  Roderick  out  for  a  drive  with  the  dogs.  "We 
have  traveled  over  a  dozen  miles  and  have  not  heard 
a  single  bird  song." 

''Only  a  whisky  jack,"  said  Roderick. 

This  reply  of  Roderick's  mafle  everybody  laugh; 
for  the  shrill,  harsh  cry  of  the  Indians'  sacred  bird, 
called  by  the  very  unpoetical  name  of  whisky  jack, 
is  not  very  musical,  but  just  the  reverse. 

*'Our  singing  birds  are  all  in  the  sunny  South 
Land  during  these  cold  months,"  said  Mr.  Ross. 
"We  have  multitudes  of  them  during  our  brief  sum- 
mer time.  Then,  at  the  first  breath  of  the  Frost 
King,  they  flit  away  and  leave  us  so  still  and  quiet." 

"What  about  this  saucy  bird,  here  called  whisky 
jack,  that  we  meet  with  on  all  of  our  wintry  jour- 
neys?" asked  Alec. 

"Well,"  replied  Mrs.  Ross,  "you  see,  in  the  first 

place,  that  he  is  not  very  handsome.  His  bluish-gray 

plumage  is  not  very  attractive,  but  he  has  an  inner 

coating  of  black  down,  and  if  you  could  strip  him  of 

both  of  these  jackets  you  would  find  him  to  be  a  very 

small  bird  after  all.    The  Indians  used  to  call  him 

88 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

their  sacred  bird.  They  never  kill  one,  no  matter 
how  hungry  they  may  be.  They  have  some  beauti- 
ful traditions  associated  with  him.  His  voice,  so 
harsh  and  loud,  is,  according  to  some  legends,  the  cry 
of  a  fair  maiden  who,  fleeing  from  a  hateful  suitor, 
was  lost  in  a  blizzard.  In  vain  she  called  for  her 
own  sweetheart,  until  her  once  musical  voice  became 
so  harsh  and  rough  that  it  lost  its  beauty.  To  pre- 
vent her  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  her  hated 
suitor,  just  as  he  was  about  seizing  her  the  magi- 
cians changed  her,  in  answer  to  her  prayer,  into  a 
bird,  and  this  is  the  whisky  jack." 

"Our  next  most  interesting  winter  bird,"  said  Mr. 
Ross,  "is  the  ptarmigan,  or  white  partridge.  The 
colder  the  w  inter  the  more  numerous  they  seem  to 
be.  They  are  easily  snared,  like  the  rabbits,  as  they 
have  certain  favorite  runs,  and  do  not  seem  to  ob- 
serve the  twine  or  wire  loops  into  which  they  so 
foolishly  run  their  heads." 

"Where  do  they  sleep  at  nights?"  asked  little 
Roderick. 

"Faith,  and  I  know,"  said  Sam;  "for  was  I  not 
fairly  frightened  out  of  my  wits  by  a  lot  of  them  one 
night  when  traveling  late  to  the  camp  to  drive  over 
a  snowdrift  into  which  they  were  burying  them- 
selves? I  saw  them  fly  up  high  in  the  air,  and  then, 
like  a  stone,  they  just  shot  themselves  down  and 
buried  themselves  out  of  sight  of  myself  and  those 
who  were  with  me." 

"Yes,"  said  Alec,  "and  I  well  remember  how  they 

startled  me  several  times  as  they  were  getting  up  out 

of  these  queer  beds  in  the  deep  snow  away  out  from 

89 


^  y^-i 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


m 

mm 


m 

Si 

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■  2.0 

li 


IL25  III  1.4 


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1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


'^>" 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  USM 

(716)  873-4503 


^ 


^ 


^ 


V 


% 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  dense  woods.  It  always  occurred  very  early  in 
the  morning,  shortly  after  we  had  left  our  camps  in 
the  woods,  where  we  had  spent  the  night.  I  could 
hardly  get  used  to  the  start  they  gave  me,  as  some- 
times they  flew  right  up  from  under  the  feet  of  my 
dogs.  They  seemed  like  wee  ghosts,  they  were  so 
very  white,  and  my  dogs  as  well  as  myself  were  dis- 
turbed by  their  uncanny  ways." 

"Do  they  go  back  to  the  same  snowdrifts  night 
after  night  ?"  asked  Frank. 

"No,"  said  Mr.  Ross;  "they  are  birds  that  move 
around  a  good  deal,  and  as  far  as  the  Indians'  obser- 
vations go  the  same  flock  or  covey  never  sleep  twice 
in  the  same  place.  If  they  did  the  foxes  and  other 
animals  that  are  very  fond  of  feeding  on  them  would 
soon  discover  their  retreats,  and  would  make  short 
work  of  them." 

Thus  the  days  and  weeks  passed  by.  Sometimes 
all  the  boys,  wjth  Mr.  Ross  and  a  number  of  Indians, 
would  be  away  on  some  great  excursion  after  the 
bears  or  beavers.  At  other  times  shorter  trips 
would  be  arranged,  wher.  but  one  or  two  of  the  boys 
would  go. 

Then  there  were  the  home  sports  and  frequent 
visits  to  the  traps  and  snares.  The  dogs  were  kept 
busy,  and  the  skates  and  snowshoes  were  not  for- 
gotten. 

The  visits  between  Sagasta-weekee  and  the  mis- 
sion w^ere  very  frequent,  and  it  began  to  appear  as 
if  Cupid  had  donned  a  fur  ermine  coat,  or  a  feather 
mantle,  and  had  made  a  flying  visit  and  fired  a 

couple  of  his  darts  into  the  hearts  of  Fr?it;k  and 

90 


1 

! 
j 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


Alec,  and  on  these  darts 


the 


names  of  the  two 
lovely  daughters  of  the  missionary.  Whether  this 
be  true  or  not,  or  only  a  rumor  brought  by  a  relay 
of  gulls,  we  cannot  say,  but  Mrs.  Ross  affirmed  that 
never  since  their  arrival  at  Sagasta-weekee  were 
these  two  young  gentlemen  so  particular  about  their 
personal  appearance,  or  so  anxious  to  find  some  good 
and  valid  reason  why  they  should  be  sent  over  to 
the  home  of  the  missionary.  It  was  also  remarked, 
by  those  who  saw  their  two  beautifully  painted  cari- 
oles  made  ready  for  the  trip,  that  an  extra  soft  fur 
robe  or  two  were  placed  therein.  Their  skates  were 
sometimes  also  carried  along  with  them.  It  was 
also  further  remarked  that  they  generally  preferred 
starting  early  in  the  day,  and  it  was  an  actual  fact 
that,  although  the  whole  round  trip  need  not  have 
taken  more  than  three  or  four  hours,  they  generally 
did  not  return  until  long  after  dark.  Rumors 
also  reached  Sagasta-weekee  that  on  several  occa- 
sions two  beautiful  carioles,  with  lovely  white  young 
ladies  cozily  wrapped  up  in  costly  furs,  and  driven 
by  handsome  young  gentlemen,  had  been  met  with, 
fairly  flying  over  the  great  icy  routes,  while  the  air 
was  full  of  happy  laughter  that  sounded  very  much 
in  unison  with  the  music  of  the  little  silver  bells  that 
hung  on  the  collars  of  the  splendid  dogs.  And  fur- 
thermore, it  was  well  known  that  among  the  skating 
parties  Frank  and  Alec  were  generally  found  skat- 
ing with  these  same  two  young  ladies.  Their  expla- 
nations were  that  their  skates  seemed  to  glide  more 
in  unison  with  each  other,  and  in  fact  that  there  was 
a  sort  of  affinity  between  them.    Then  their  joy  was 

m 


Uf 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


I,. 


'I '. 


f  ■ 


I 


complete  when  Mrs.  Ross  invited  the  whole  family 
from  the  mission  to  come  early  and  spend  the  day 
with  them  at  Sagasta-weekee.  It  was  remarked 
that  these  two  young  gentlemen  generally  had  word 
that  the  devoted  missionary  had  heen  using  his  dogs 
very  much  lately  on  his  long  trips  among  the  distant 
bands  of  Indians,  and  it  would  be  a  capital  idea  for 
some  of  them  to  drive  over  with  their  fresh  trains 
and  bring  back  some  of  the  family.  This  happy 
suggestion  was  of  course  carried  out,  but  it  was 
observed  that  the  carioles  of  the  aforesaid  young 
gentlemen,  whei.  they  returned,  only  had  in  each  of 
them  a  sweet-faced,  beautiful  young  lady,  and  they 
said  that  the  trip  had  been  "perfectly  lovely !" 

What  happy  days  those  were!  To  Frank  and 
Alec  had  come  their  first  young  lovedreams,  uud 
they  were  pure  and  sweet  and  stimulating.  Cynics 
and  crusty,  disappointed  old  bachelors  might  make 
fun  of  these  youthful  lovers  and  make  some  sarcas- 
tic remarks;  still,  after  all,  where  is  the  noble, 
healthy,  splendid  young  man  of  fifteen  or  sixteen 
that  has  not  safely  passed  through  these  same  or- 
deals and  as  a  general  thing  survived  ?  So  let  Frank 
and  Alec  have  these  daydreams  and  thus  enjoy 
themselves.  They  will  be  none  the  worse,  but  rather 
the  better,  when  the  ordeal  is  over,  as  it  is  with  those 
who  safely  get  through  with  a  lingering  attack  of 
the  measles  or  scarlet  fever. 

One  day  Mr.  Ross  sent  old  Mustagan  out  into  the 

woods  to  select  a  place  where  the  next  year's  supply 

of  wood  could  be  obtained.     His  instructions  were 

to  find  a  dense  forest  of  tall,  symmetrical  trees  from 

92 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


areas- 
noble, 
xteen 
e  or- 
rank 
|enjoy 
ather 
those 
k  of 

lo  the 
lipply 
Iwere 
Ifrom 


I 


which  a  trail  or  road  could  be  easily  made  to 
Sagasta-weekee.  Then  choppers  would  be  sent  in, 
and  some  acres  of  this  forest  would  be  cut  down  and 
there  left  to  dry  for  twelve  months.  The  result 
would  be  that  at  the  end  of  the  year's  time  the  trees 
would  be  in  splendid  condition  for  firewood.  The 
next  operation  was  to  have  these  trees  all  cut  up  in 
lengths  that  could  be  easily  handled,  and  then 
dragged  home  by  the  dogs  on  their  long  sleds  when 
there  was  abundance  of  snow  on  the  ground. 

Sam  asked  for  the  privilege  of  accompanying 
Mustagan.  As  the  walk  was  only  a  few  miles,  the 
old  Indian  was  pleased  to  have  the  bright  young 
paleface  go  with  him.  As  they  were  to  go  through 
the  forest,  where  there  was  not  as  yet  the  first  ves- 
tige of  a  trail,  they  at  once  strapped  on  their  snow- 
shoes.  Mustagan's  only  weapon  was  his  ax,  while 
Sam  carried  a  small  rifle.  Very  much  sooner  than 
they  had  anticipated  they  found  a  suitable  grove, 
the  limits  of  which  Mustagan  at  once  proceeded  to 
mark  ofif  with  his  ax.  These  few  marks  thus  made 
on  some  of  the  trees  were  all  that  was  necessary  to 
secure  the  property. 

They  had  seen  but  little  game,  and  so  all  that  Sam 
had  fired  at  had  been  a  passing  rabbit  or  ptarmigan. 
While  on  the  home  trip  a  beautiful  covey  of  par- 
tridges came  flying  by  them  and  lit  in  a  large  balsam 
tree  but  a  few  hundred  feet  in  front  of  them. 

*T  wish  I  had  brought  a  shotgun  instead  of  this 
rifle,"  said  Sam.  "I  think  we  might  have  had  more 
than  one  of  those  partridges." 

"Suppose  we  try  and  get  them  all  without  any 

93 


£ 


r, 


III 


h 


h  V 


,! 


i 


ij 


N  ^ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

gun,"  said  Mustagan,  in  a  tone  that  seemed  to  indi- 
cate perfect  confidence  in  the  experiment. 

"If  we  get  two  of  them  before  they  fly  I  will  be 
delighted,"  said  Sam,  as  he  raised  his  gun  and  tried 
to  get  a  shot  at  two  in  a  line.  However,  before  he 
could  fire  Mustagan  quickly  stopped  him  and  said: 

"No,  no,  not  that  way.  I  will  show  you  how. 
Step  back  and  keep  still,  and  see  how  our  fathers 
used  to  get  them  before  the  white  man's  gun  came 
into  the  country." 

Sam  naturally  thought  of  the  bow  and  arrows,  but 
as  Mustagan  had  none  along  he  wondered  if  the  old 
man  was  going  to  quickly  try  and  make  some.  In 
the  meantime  Mustagan  had  quietly  slipped  back 
into  a  grove  of  tall,  slender  young  trees  that  grew  up 
like  great  fish  poles.  Here  he  quickly  cut  down  one 
that  could  be  easily  handled  by  a  strong  man.  This 
he  rapidly  trimmed  of  all  its  branches,  and  then 
quietly  returned  with  it  to  the  spot  where  Sam  was 
watching  the  birds.  Stooping  down  to  one  of  his 
moccasined  feet,  Mustagan  untied  the  deerskin 
string  with  which  the  moccasin  had  been  securely 
fastened  around  his  ankle  to  keep  out  the  snow.  Cut- 
ting oflf  a  piece  about  two  feet  long,  he  again  fastened 
up  his  shoe,  and  then,  with  the  string  thus  secured, 
began  to  make  a  snare  out  of  it.  He  first  tied  one 
end  of  the  string  securely  to  the  smaller  end  of  the 
long  pole;  then  in  the  other  end  of  the  string  he 
made  a  running  slip  noose,  which  he  arranged  so 
that  it  would  be  about  four  inches  in  diameter.  Then 
began  the  strangest  part  of  his  proceedings,  and  one 

only  possible  in  a  land  of  such  intense  cold.    Taking 

94 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


was 
)f  his 
rskin 
urely 
Cut- 
ened 
ured, 
one 
f  the 
g  he 
d  so 
■Then 
one 
king 


I 


his  hand  out  of  his  mitten,  Mustagan  wet  liis  fingers 
with  his  saUva  and  then  immediately  rubbed  it  on  tlie 
deerskin  string.     As  fast  as  it  was  thus  wet  it  froze 
as  stiff  as  wire,  and  stood  straight  out  from  the  stick. 
Rapidly  did  the  Indian  thus  wet  the  whole  string, 
the  loop  of  the  slip  noose  included,  until  the  whole 
stood  out  as  though  made  of  steel  wire.     Then, 
cautioning  Sam  not  to  move,  Mustagan,  carrying 
his  long  pole  with  this  uniquely  formed  noose  on  its 
end,  moved  cautiously  and  quickly  under  the  tree  in 
which  the  partridges  were  still  sitting.     Carefully  he 
began  raising  up  the  pole  until  it  was  higher  than  the 
head  of  the  partridge  nearest  the  ground.     Then  he 
deftly  brought  it  so  that  the  noose  was  directly  over 
the  head  of  the  bird.     With  a  quick  jerk  he  pulled 
the  pole  down  with  the  head  of  the  bird  in  the  noose 
of  the  string,  which,  of  course,  tightened  with  the 
sudden  jerk.     Mustagan  quickly  killed  the  bird  by 
crushing  in  the  skull.     Then,  loosing  it  from  the 
string,  he  rapidly  went  through  the  whole  process 
again  of  moistening  the  string  with  his  saliva  and 
arranging  the  noose  as  before.     In  this  way  he  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  the  whole  covey  of  those  par- 
tridges.   From  his  favorable  position  Sam  watched 
the  whole  operation,  and  was  much  delighted  with 
the  success  of  the  old  Indian,  who  had  in  this  way, 
without  the  loss  of  one  charge  of  powder,  or  even  an 
arrow,  secured  ten  or  a  dozen  fine,  plump  partridges. 
On  their  way  home,  in  answer  to  Sam's  many  ques- 
tions as  to  his  reasons  for  adopting  this  method 
of  capturing  the  partridges,  the  Indian  stated  that 
the  secret  of  his  success  in  getting  them  all  was  the 

95 


u : 
'^1 


1 

•  !    ; 


lil 


II  :i 


w 


'  i 


I£1' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

fact  that  he  began  by  catching  in  his  noose  the  bird 
lowest  clown.  "When  you  do  that,"  he  added,  "the 
birds  above  think  that  as  those  below  them  go  down 
they  are  just  flying  to  the  ground  to  see  what  they 
can  find  to  eat.  Never  take  a  bird  that  is  higher 
up  in  the  tree  than  any  other.  If  yr  a  do  you  get  no 
more.     The  rest  will  at  once  fly  away." 

Another  bird  that  remains  aV  winter  in  those  cold 
North  Lands  is  the  great  snow-white  owl.  His 
wonderful  covering  of  feathers,  even  down  t  *  the 
toes,  enables  him  to  defy  the  severest  frost.  He 
generally  sleeps  by  day  in  some  dense  balsam  tree, 
and  then  is  ready,  when  the  sun  goes  down,  for  his 
nightly  raids  upon  the  rabbits  and  partridges.  He 
is  also  fond  of  mice,  and  as  there  are  some  varieties 
of  these  active  little  creatures  that  run  around  a  good 
deal  even  in  the  winter,  and  at  night,  the  owls  are 
ever  on  the  lookout  for  them,  as  well  as  are  the 
foxes.  Sometimes  these  great  white  owls  in  their 
night  huntings  fly  far  away  from  their  usual  resting 
places  Then  they  are  in  great  trouble,  especially  if 
there  are  no  trees  with  dense  branches  among  which 
they  can  hide.  If  the  bright  sun  happens  to  peep 
up  over  the  horizon  ere  they  are  safely  stowed  away 
in  some  shadowy  place,  they  are  at  the  mercy  of  any 
foe.  Sometimes  they  alight  on  the  icy  or  snowy 
surface  of  the  lake.  They  are  then  easily  captured. 
When  a  clever  Indian  dog-driver  sees  one  thus 
standing  out  on  the  ice  he  quickly  stops  his  dog- 
train,  and,  running  toward  the  bewildered  owl,  gets 
on  the  side  on  which  the  sun  is  shining.     Then  he 

makes  sufficient  noise  to  keep  the  ow!  excited  and 

96 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


:  cold 
His 
»  the 
He 
tree, 
or  his 
He 
rieties 
L  good 
[Is  are 
the 
their 
ssting 
llyif 
which 
peep 
away 
f  any 
nowy 
ured. 
thus 
dog- 
gets 
:n  he 
and 


looking  toward  liim.  In  doiiig  this  tlie  owl  has  to 
let  the  bright,  brilliant  rays  of  the  sun  shine  right 
into  his  great,  staring  eyes.  The  man,  with  nothing 
but  his  long  whip  in  his  hand,  keeps  approaching, 
taking  care,  however,  that  his  shadow  does  not  fall 
on  the  bird.  If  he  did,  that  instant  the  owl  would  be 
off.  So  the  man  keeps  enough  to  one  side  to  have 
the  owl  always  in  the  brilliant  light.  The  result  is 
he  does  not  .see  the  approaching  man.  When  near 
enough  the  man  uses  his  wh.ip  in  such  a  way  that  the 
long  lash  winds  itself  suddenly  around  the  neck  of 
the  owl,  and  he  is  thus  ca))tured. 

When  better  food  is  scarce  these  large  owls  are 
eaten  by  the  Indians.  Some  are  so  fond  of  them 
that  they  are  ever  on  the  lookout  to  capture  them. 
They  have  several  methods  by  which  they  catch 
them.  One  is  to  fasten  an  upright  pole  securely  in 
the  ice.  On  the  top  of  this  is  nailed  a  little  board, 
and  on  this  is  set  a  steel  trap  or  snare.  The  owls  get 
tired  with  their  constant  flying  about,  and,  seeing 
this  handy  resting  place,  are  then  quickly  caught  as 
they  alight  upon  it.  Another  method  was  explained 
to  Sam  by  an  old  Indian  hunter,  and  with  some  help 
in  securing  the  material  they  had  a  great  deal  of  fun 
in  trying  it.  The  first  thing  they  did  was  to  make 
a  great  black  rag  mouse  about  as  big  as  a  beaver.  To 
this  was  added  a  tail  about  five  fee;  long.  Then  to 
the  nose  of  this  great  bogus  mouse  was  attached  one 
end  of  a  large  ball  of  twine.  This  was  the  whole 
outfit,  except,  of  course,  the  guns.  One  evening  an 
Indian  arrived  with  the  news  that  at  a  certain  place 
the  great  white  owls  had  been  seen  in  numbers,  and 
7  97 


1  ■x  ■ 


r 


i 


h 


'".   ;i 


I 


li 


!•<    i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  place  to  go  and  see  what 
could  be  done  in  capturing  some.  As  it  was  a  very 
pleasant  evening  and  the  place  mentioned  was  not 
very  far  away,  Sam  had  little  Roderick  packed  with 
him  in  his  cariole,  and  with  the  mouse,  ball  of  twine, 
and  gun,  and  attended  by  one  of  the  Indian  servants, 
they  drove  over  to  the  spot.  The  big  mouse  was 
placed  on  the  snow  as  far  out  from  the  shore  as  the 
string  would  allow.  The  dogs  with  the  cariole  were 
driven  into  the  shadow  of  a  large  spruce  tree  that 
grew  on  the  very  edge  of  the  lake.  Here  the  Indian, 
with  Sam  and  Roderick,  although  completely  hidden 
in  the  shade,  could  see  distinctly  everything  outside, 
for  the  moon  was  now  up  and  shining  with  wondrous 
beauty.  For  a  time  they  remained  there  under  the 
tree  in  complete  silence.  Then  the  clear  vision  of  the 
Indian  enabled  him  to  be  the  first  to  detect  the 
presence  of  an  owl. 

"Hist !"  he  quietly  uttered,  and  then  as  he  pointed 
out  the  object  they  were  able  to  see  a  great  owl  sail- 
ing round  and  round  up  in  the  air,  perhaps  fifty  feet 
directly  over  the  big  black  bog^s  mouse.  Suddenly 
he  made  a  swift  dive  down  for  it.  But  at  that  in- 
stant the  Indian,  who  had  hold  of  the  end  of  the 
cord,  gave  it  a  sudden  jerk  and  pulled  the  mouse  in 
a  dozen  feet  or  so  nearer  to  them.  This  apparent 
big  jump  of  the  mouse  seemed  to  disconcert  the  owl, 
and  so  he  quickly  flew  away.  But  it  was  only  for  a 
moment,  and  then  back  he  came.  Round  and  round 
in  circles  he  flew%  getting  nearer  and  nearer  all  the 
time,  when  once  more  he  dashed  down  on  the  big 
mouse.     But  another  sudden  jerk  had  pulled  the 


1^ 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


:  what 
I  very 
as  not 
1  with 
twine, 
vants, 
»e  was 
as  the 
e  were 
:e  that 
Indian, 
hidden 
►utside, 
ndrous 
der  the 
1  of  the 
ect  the 

)ointed 
f\  sail- 
fty  feet 
Iddenly 
Ihat  in- 
of  the 
mse  in 
)parent 
le  owl, 
for  a 
round 
jail  the 
|he  big 
id  the 


mouse  out  of  liis  reacli,  and  so  the  owl  failed  once 


more. 


"Get  your  gun  ready,"  said  the  Indian  to  Sam; 
•*he  will  be  mad  now,  and  so  we  will  soon  have  him 
near." 

It  was  just  as  the  Indian  had  predicted.  The  owl 
seemed  angry  at  having  been  fooled  the  second 
time,  and  so  when  he  rose  up  again  and  saw  that 
great  big  mouse,  which  would,  to  judge  by  its  size, 
make  him  such  a  famous  supper,  he  dashed  at  it 
again  most  savagely.  But  once  more  it  jumped 
away  from  him,  as  now  the  Indian  kept  pulling  it  in 
like  a  mouse  running  away.  Seeing  this  the  owl  lost 
all  caution,  and  was  soon  within  range  of  Sam's  gun, 
whicn  speedily  rang  out  its  sharp  report,  and  the 
great  ghostly  bird  fell  suddenly  on  the  ice  not  more 
than  forty  or  fifty  feet  away. 

"Look  out  for  his  claws,"  said  the  Indian  to  Sam, 
who  had  at  once  rushed  out  to  secure  his  game.  But 
the  warning  came  too  late.  Sam,  seeing  only  the 
beautiful  mass  of  white  feathers  and  the  great  star- 
ing eyes,  had  reached  out  his  naked  hand,  from 
which  had  dropped  his  mitten,  to  seize  hold  of  the 
owl.  But  the  savage  bird  lying  there  on  its  back 
was  only  wounded,  and  so  when  Sam's  hand  was 
reached  out  to  seize  it  the  very  opposite  happened, 
for  the  owl,  with  one  of  its  terrible  talons,  closed  on 
Sam's  hand  with  such  a  grip  that  the  poor  boy  fairly 
howled  from  the  pain.  The  sharp  » laws  had  pierced 
him  to  the  very  bone,  with  a  grip  he  could  not  break. 
The  Indian,  however,  quickly  came  to  his  rescue, 
and  pulling  out  his  keen  hunting  knife  he  skillfully 

m 


y 


( 


;t 


I 


Winter  Adventuuks  of  Three  Boys 

encircled  the  owl's  leg  with  its  sharp  edge.  This 
severed  every  sinew  and  tendon,  and  cansed  the 
claws  to  be  so  powerless  that  they  could  be  easily 
pulled  out  oi  Sam's  mangled  hand. 

The  owl  was  speedily  killed,  the  wounded  hand 
carefully  wrapped  up,  and  the  return  to  Sagasta- 
weekee  was  made  as  quickly  as  possible.  For  weeks 
Sam  suffered  from  his  wounds  ere  they  healed,  and 
always  after,  although  he  shot  a  number  of  owls  in 
this  and  other  ways,  he  took  good  care  never  to  let  a 
naked  hand  come  in  contact  with  an  owl's  claws. 

Poor  little  Roderick,  who  had  gone  out  that  even- 
ing in  great  exjiectancy  of  a  good  time,  had  had  his 
sympathies  so  aroused  by  Sam's  bowlings  that  he 
began  crying  in  sympathy,  and  kept  it  up  until  home 
was  reached. 

100 


Boys 

[Ige.  This 
caused  the 
:l  be  easily 


ncled  hand 
3  Sagasta- 
For  weeks 
lealed,  and 
of  owls  in 
VQT  to  let  a 
claws, 
that  even- 
ad  had  his 
a;-s  that  he 
until  home 


ti'i 


vn 


u 


k 


fi 


4  ;■  - 


, 


'fi  It 


c 

O 

o 

u 


• 


N 


ix\  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


c 

Hi 

g 

o 
O 

u 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Wounds  from  Claws  versus  Teeth   Discussed — Mr.   Ross's 
Story  of  the  Battle  with  the  Eagles — Their  Mountain  Aerie — 
Their  Hunting  Skill — Their  Voracity— The  Eaglets — The  Con- 
Hict — The  Result — The  Painful  Wounds. 

The  next  day,  as  Sam  was  having  his  hand 
dressed,  quite  a  discussion  arose  in  reference  to 
which  wounds  were  the  more  painful,  those  received 
from  the  teeth  of  wild  animals  or  those  from  the 
claws.  Sam's  present  opinion,  very  decidedly  ex- 
pressed, was  that  those  from  the  claws  were  the 
worse.  This  w^as  the  g-encral  testimony  also  of  the 
Indians  when  questioned  on  the  subject,  one  of  their 
reasons  being  that  the  teeth  were  smoother  and  did 
not  make  such  a  torn,  jagged  wound  as  did  the 
claws.  Another  was  that  the  claws  were  very  much 
dirtier  than  the  teeth,  and  hence  the  wounds  of  the 
claws  were  much  slower  in  healing  than  w^ere  those 
from  the  teeth. 

"But  w'hat  about  hydrophobia  from  the  bites  of 
the  dogs  and  wild  animals  ?"  said  Frank. 

To  this  Mr.  Ross's  reply  was  that  that  dreadful 
disease  was  about  unknown  among  them,  although 
there  were  said  to  have  been  some  cases  occurring 
from  the  bites  of  the  fox. 

**Did  not  a  Governor-General  of  Canada  die  from 
the  wounds  received  from  the  bites  of  a  fox?"  said 
Alec. 

"Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Ross.  **It  was  a  tame  fox, 
but  it  was  supposed  that  it  had  gone  mad," 

lOI 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

"Perhaps  it  had  been  bitten  by  a  mad  dog,  and 
then  became  mad  itself/'  said  Sam. 

"That  is  in  all  probability  the  correct  solution  of 
the  difficult  problem,  which  for  a  long  time  troubled 
many  medical  men  and  others,"  said  Mr.  Ross. 

"Are  there  any  other  birds  in  this  country  with 
claws  or  talons  equal  to  those  of  this  great  owl?" 
asked  Sam. 

"O  yes,"  replied  Mr.  Ross,  "those  of  the  great 
eagle,  which  is  the  first  of  all  the  migratory  birds  to 
reach  us,  are  more  terrible.  It  is  generally  seen 
during  the  March  moon,  and  so  the  Cree  Indians 
call  that  moon,  or  month,  Mikisewpesim,  the  eagle 
moon.  The  Indians  prize  the  feathers  of  the  golden 
eagle  very  highly.  The  magnificent  war  bonnets  of 
the  great  chiefs  are  made  of  them,  and  every  war- 
rior of  any  note  is  very  ambitious  to  have  his  eagle 
plumes.  They  are  hunted  only  for  their  feathers, 
beaks,  and  claws.  Their  flesh  is  worthless.  They 
are  very  wary  birds,  and  it  is  indeed  a  skillful  hunter 
who  can  get  within  range  of  one  of  them  by  ordi- 
iicii^y  stalking.  They  build  their  nests,  or  aeries,  as 
they  are  called,  away  up  on  the  most  inaccessible 
cliflfs,  where  it  is  dangerous  for  even  the  most  ex- 
perienced mountain  climbers  to  follow.  When  not 
engaged  in  nesting  they  spend  a  great  deal  of  time 
in  circling  around  in  the  bright  blue  sky,  at  heights 
so  great  that  the  eye  can  scarce  discern  them,  and 
where  the  arrow  or  bullet  of  the  best-armed  Indian 
fails  to  reach  them.  Indian  cunning,  however, 
sometimes  enables  them  to  capture  the  eagles  in 
traps,  and  then  their  beautiful  pinions,  that  had  ena- 

102 


rs 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


Dg,  and 

ition  of 
roubled 

)SS. 

ry  with 
t  owl?" 

le  great 
birds  to 
lly  seen 
Indians 
le  eagle 
:  golden 
iinets  of 
ry  war- 
is  eagle 
eathers. 
They 

hunter 
)y  ordi- 
jries,  as 
cessible 
lost  ex- 
hen  not 
of  time 
heights 
;m,  and 

Indian 
owever, 
Lgles  in 
lad  ena- 


bled them  to  soar  away  into  the  blue  heavens  above, 
become,  next  to  the  scalps  of  their  enemies  and  the 
necklaces  of  the  grizzly  bears'  claws,  the  proudest 
ornaments  with  which  they  can  decorate  them- 
selves." 

"Did  you  ever  have  one  attack  you?"  said  Sam. 

"Or  did  you  ever  try  to  get  hold  of  a  wounded 
one's  talons  with  your  naked  hand  ?"  said  Alec. 

This  latter  question  caused  some  laughter  at 
Sam's  expense,  as  at  him  it  was  evidently  aimed,  in 
view  of  his  recent  mishap  with  the  owl.  Mr.  Ross's 
answer  was  grateful  to  Sam,  as  it  stopped  the  laugh- 
ter and  showed  that  others  might  make  the  same 
mistake  or  meet  with  similar  adventures. 

"Yes,  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "for  I  can  answer 
both  questions  that  way.  It  was  long  ago  when  my 
father  had  charge  of  a  Hudson  Bay  trading  post 
away  west  of  this,  where  the  Rocky  Mountain 
ranges  were  not  very  far  distant  from  us.  I  was 
fond  of  sport,  and  went  with  the  Indians  on  all  sorts 
of  hunting  adventures.  Sometimes  we  would  be 
gone  for  days  together,  and  have  all  kinds  of  strange 
experiences.  We  hunted  every  kind  of  wild  animal 
that  roamed  in  the  prairies,  in  the  foothills,  or  in 
the  mountains  themselves.  Very  glorious  was  the 
scenery  among  these  magnificent  mountains.  Once 
when  out  with  some  Assiniboines,  or  Mountain 
Stonies,  as  they  are  generally  called  by  the  whites, 
we  saw  a  large  eagle  attack  a  mountain  sheep  with 
such  fury  that  the  sheep  lost  its  footing  and  went 
whirling  down  the  mountain  side  to  certain  destruc- 
tion.   The  eagle,  instead  of  swooping  down  on  the 

103 


1' 


mmmm> 


^  r" 


i 


I 


I' 


fl. 


! 


•■ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

quivering  carcass,  as  we  had  expected  it  to  do, 
dashed  at  what  we  now  observed  for  the  first  time — 
a  Httle  timid  lamb  that  its  mother  had  \  ainly  tried  to 
defend.  The  fierce  eagle,  with  an  exultant  scream, 
fastened  its  strong  talons  into  the  back  of  the  fright- 
ened little  creature,  and  then,  flapping  its  great 
wings,  began  slowly  rising  from  the  rock.  We 
watched  it  as  it  slowly  flew  away  until  it  landed  on  a 
ledge  of  rocks  away  up  on  a  mountain  side  near  the 
top.  As  soon  as  it  landed  we  observed  that  there 
was  its  aerie,  for  from  a  clump  of  sticks  some  little 
heads  were  outstretched  for  food.  The  eyes  of  my 
Indian  attendants  gleamed  with  satisfaction,  and 
they  said: 

"  *We  will  soon  have  your  feathers,  old  jNIr. 
Eagle,  and  that  will  stop  your  destroying  our  moun- 
tain game.' 

"While  the  side  of  the  mountain  on  which  the 

eagles  had  built  their  nest  was  quite  precipitous,  the 

back  part  was  easily  scaled,  so  that  hunters  with 

level  heads  could  climb,  by  being  careful,  up  so  high 

that  they  could  really  look  down  into  the  eagle's 

nest.    The  nearest  point  from  the  nest  that  we  could 

reach  was  perhaps  fifty  feet  away.     We  did  not, 

however,  at  once  go  that  near.    We  did,  however, 

crawl  near  enough  to  see  the  fierce,  savage  way  in 

which  the  old  bird  tore  that  young  mountain  lamb 

to  pieces  and  fed  the  voracious  young  eaglets,  that 

struggled  and  fought  with  each  other  in  their  mad 

greed.    While  they  were  thus  being  fed  by  the  old 

male  bird  we  saw  the  mother  arrive  with  a  rabbit  in 

her  talons.    When  she  saw  the  feast  that  had  been 

104 


0 


r  «ir 


to  do, 
time — 
ried  to 
icreani, 
fright- 
,  great 
c.  We 
ed  on  a 
ear  the 
t  there 
le  Httlc 
I  of  my 
»n,   and 

Id   I^Ir. 
■  moun- 

ich  the 

)us,  the 

-s  with 

30  high 

eagle's 

could 

id  not, 

)wever, 

way  in 

n  lamb 

s,  that 

ir  mad 

the  old 

bbit  in 

d  been 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

provided  for  the  young  brood  she  laid  the  rabbit  on 
one  side,  and  patiently  waited  until  her  mate  had 
satisfied  the  voracious  appetites  of  the  brood.  Then 
she  and  the  other  eagle  tore  to  pieces  the  rabbit  and 
devoured  it,  with  what  was  left  of  the  mountain 
lamb. 

"  'Big  dinner  all  around,  everybody  full,'  said  my 
Assiniboines ;  *big  sleep  next,  then  old  ones  go  away 
for  a  big  fly,  and  then  we  set  our  traps  for  them ;  but 
while  they  sleep  we  eat  and  sleep  too.' 

"We  drew  back  very  cautiously  into  a  ravine 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  down  the  mountain  side, 
to  a  place  where  we  had  noticed  some  dry  wood,  for 
we  were  not  quite  above  the  timber  limit.  Here  we 
made  a  fire  and  had  something  to  eat.  It  was  dif- 
ficult to  make  the  tea,  as  the  water,  although  boiling, 
had  so  little  heat  in  it  at  that  height  on  the  mountain. 
We  unstrapped  our  blankets  and  lay  down  near  the 
fire  and  went  to  sleep,  for  we  were  very  weary,  hav- 
ing been  up  some  nights  before  on  the  lookout  for  a 
mountain  lion  that  had  been  lurking  about.  I  woke 
up  after  a  couple  of  hours'  sleep  and  found  that  both 
of  the  eagles  had  been  seen  by  the  watchful  Indians 
to  fly  away  from  the  nest.  As  the  length  of  their 
absence  was  very  uncertain,  the  Indians  quickly  set 
to  work  to  make  the  snares  in  which  they  expected 
to  entrap  them.  Steel  traps  were  unknown  in  those 
days,  and  vSo  the  Indians  had  to  make  theirs  out  of 
their  strong  buffalo  sinews  and  deerskin  twine. 

"When  we  went  back  to  the  place  where  we  could 

overlook  the  nest  it  was  evident  that  there  would  be 

some  difficulty  in  getting  down  onto  the  ledge  where 

105 


I 


•ir 


h 


I   I 


.-•SV 


J 


iW  ! 


I 

If 

!l 
ill 


,  ■ 
'I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Th::ee  Boys 

the  young  eaglets  lay  quietly  sleeping.  After  vari- 
ous trials  it  was  decided  that  the  only  way  was  for 
one  of  our  party  to  be  lowered  over  and  let  down  by 
the  rest.  As  I  was  much  the  lightest  one,  and  as 
the  supply  of  material  that  we  had  with  us  out  of 
which  to  improvise  a  rope  was  very  limited,  I  was 
the  one  selected  to  go  down  and  put  the  snares  in 
position.  It  was  decided  that  we  would  not  disturb 
the  eaglets  to-day,  but  would  leave  them  alone  for 
the  present,  for  fear  the  old  eagles  would  become 
alarmed  and  suspicious,  and  we  would  fail  in  captur- 
ing them.  The  rope,  such  as  it  was,  held  me  all 
right,  and  I  landed  near  the  nest.  The  young  birds 
were  so  gorged  with  the  flesh  of  the  mountain  lamb 
that  they  were  very  stupid,  and  hardly  stirred.  I 
set  to  work  as  speedily  as  possible  to  arrange  the 
snares,  so  that  the  eagles  would  step  into  them.  As 
they  were  all  constructed  on  the  running  noose 
principle  we  knew  that  they  would  quickly  tighten 
around  the  feet  if  once  they  were  stepped  into.  My 
principal  difficulty  was  in  finding  places  where  I 
could  tie  the  other  ends  of  the  snares.  Eagles  are 
very  powerful,  and  can  drag  by  the  foot  great 
weights.  So  I  knew  that  all  our  work  would  be  lost 
if  I  did  not  succeed  in  tying  them  so  that  their  most 
desperate  struggles  to  get  loose  would  be  in  vain. 
However,  I  succeeded  at  length,  and  then  I  was 
hoisted  up  and  we  all  returned  back  a  mile  or  so 
and  there  camped  ^or  the  night. 

"The  next  morning,  before  we  reached  the  spot, 
we  heard  enough  to  convince  us  of  the  success  of 

our  scheme.    Eagles  can  make  a  big  noise  if  they 

io6 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

try,  and  two  captured  eagles  and  some  frightened 
young  ones  were  noisy  enough  as  we  drew  near  and 
investigated.  Both  eagles  were  firmly  caught  in 
these  snares  of  rolled  and  twisted  sinews,  which, 
although  not  much  thicker  than  common  wire,  were 
sufficiently  strong  to  hold  them.  The  Indians 
wished  to  shoot  them  at  once,  but  I  had  long  had  an" 
ambition  to  own  a  live,  full-grown  eagle,  and  there- 
fore I  would  not  let  them  fire.  The  rope  of  yester- 
day was  soon  brought  into  use  again,  and  I  was 
lowered  down  once  more  to  the  rocky  ledge,  armed 
only  with  a  stout  club  about  four  feet  long.  The 
noise  was  simply  deafening  that  was  made  by  these 
angry  birds.  The  instant  I  landed  they  flew  at  me 
most  viciously.  Well  was  it  that  the  strong  sinews 
held  them  firmly.  As  it  was  I  had  a  rough  time  of 
it.  I  would  watch  my  opportunity  and  try  to  strike 
one  of  them  a  heavy  blow  on  the  head  with  my  club. 
To  my  surprise  I  received  in  return  a  heavy  whack 
from  a  powerful  wing.  Their  wings  were  free,  and 
the  length  of  the  string  enabled  them  to  attack  me 
from  all  quarters.  Seeing  my  difficulties,  I  called 
to  my  Indians  to  shoot  the  female  bird,  and  thus 
leave  me  but  one  to  tackle.  This  they  did  by  shoot- 
ing her  through  the  head.  This  left  me  but  the  old 
male  bird.  I  think  I  could  have  easily  knocked  him 
over  the  head,  but  my  ambition  was  to  capture  him 
and  to  take  him  home  as  a  trophy.  I  unfastened  the 
noose  of  the  dead  eagle,  and,  tying  it  to  the  rope, 
had  the  Indians  hoist  it  up  to  the  top.  Then  I  made 
the  attempt  to  tie  together  the  legs  of  the  young 

eaglets  to  have  them  also  drawn  up  to  the  summit. 

107 


mmm 


II  i 


H! 


I 


i"! 


! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

What  fighters  tliey  were!  The  way  they  struck  at 
me  with  their  little  beaks,  and  in  every  way  possible 
resented  my  interference  with  their  liberty,  was 
wonderful.  My  hands  were  sore  and  bleeding  ere 
I  succeeded  in  sending  up  the  last  of  the  four  to  my 
comrades.  I  had  them  throw  down  the  snares,  and 
with  them  I  made  a  kind  of  a  lasso  which  I  tried  to 
throw  over  the  head  of  the  vicious  bird.  As  I  threw 
it  he  coolly  reached  up  and  cleverly  caught  it  in  his 
beak,  and  snapped  it  in  two  as  quickly  as  could  a 
pair  of  scissors.  I  tried  it  again,  and  once  more  he 
was  too  liiuzh  for  me.  Why  he  had  not  cut  himself 
loose  when  in  the  snare  w^as  a  mystery  to  me  when  I 
here  saw  how  clever  he  was  in  cutting  my  lasso.  It 
was  looking  rather  discouraging,  and  I  began  to 
fear  that  he  would  have  to  be  shot. 

"My  comrades  had  been  amused  spectators  of  my 
adventures,  and  now,  seeing  me  uncertain  as  to 
what  would  be  my  best  move,  gave  me  some  advice. 
It  was  this:  'Untie  the  other  end  of  the  long  noose 
that  holds  him  to  the  rock  where  you  tastened  it,  and 
tie  it  to  the  rope,  and  we  will  pull  him  up  and  see 
what  we  can  do  with  him  here.'  This  plan  struck 
me  as  a  capital  one,  and  so  I  immediately  proceeded 
to  carry  it  out.  But  I  had  decided  on  this  plan  with- 
out taking  the  eagle  into  my  confidence,  and  so  when 
I  began  handling  the  string  he  flew  at  me,  and  with 
beak  and  wings  assailed  me.  I  had  foolishly  dropped 
my  heavy  club,  and  so  at  first  was  about  powerless. 
Fortunately,  I  had  my  hunting  knife  a*,  my  side,  and 
quickly  drawing  it  I  fought  for  my  life.    The  eagle 

cleverly  warded  off  my  lunges  at  him  by  striking  me 

io8 


ti    \' 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

with  his  wings.  Sometimes  so  heavily  (Ud  his  hlows 
rain  on  me  tiiat  it  was  a  wonder  I  was  not  stunned. 
Apparently  gaining  courage  hy  his  success,  he 
seemed  to  redouble  his  attacks,  and  for  a  time  kept 
me  wholly  on  the  defensive.  Making  a  sudden  dash 
at  him  with  the  hope  of  plunging  my  knife  into  him, 
he  so  cleverly,  with  one  of  his  wings,  knocked  aside 
my  knife  that  in  my  stumble  I  found  I  had  awkwardly 
cut  the  noose  that  bound  him.  As  I  knew  that  his 
talons  were  now  free  I  presumed  he  would  at  once 
avail  himself  of  his  liberty  and  fly  away.  But  he 
had  now  no  such  idea.  His  blood  was  up,  and  so 
with  a  scream  of  defiance,  or  triumph,  he  flew  right 
at  my  face,  with  his  great  ugly  talons  extended,  as 
though  he  would  grip  me  up  as  he  had  done  the 
lamb.  When  attacked  we  naturally  will  do  any- 
thing to  save  the  face,  and  so  the  instant  he  dashed 
at  me  I  threw  up  my  left  hand  to  grasp  hold  of  him 
somewhere.  This  fortunately  arrested  his  dash 
at  my  face,  and  in  the  next  instant  I  had  plunged  my 
knife  under  his  outstretched  wings  into  his  very 
vitals,  and  he  was  a  dead  eagle.  So  terrible,  how- 
ever, was  that  death  grip  on  my  hand  and  wrist  that 
it  was  not  until  I  was  hauled  up  with  him  to  the  top 
that  the  Indians  were  able  to  set  me  free,  and  then 
it  was  only  done  by  cutting  the  sinews  or  muscles  of 
each  great  claw  and  taking  them  out  of  my  flesh." 
*'Well,"  said  Sam,  "that  is  a  splendid  story;  but 
you  must  have  sufl^ered  much  more  than  I  did,  and 
so  as  regards  my  little  experience  with  the  owl,  well, 
I  think  I'll  ould  my  tongue." 

And  so  he  did. 

109 


i 


mm 


J  I  III  IIIIIHII 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


if 


i> 


.1 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Sundays  in  the  Great  Lone  Land — Services  ut  the  Mission — 
By  Skiff  or  Canoe  in  Summer — By  Dog-train  in  Winter — Na- 
poleon, the  Tame  Bear,  and  His  Load — Services  at  Sagasta- 
weekee — Missionary  Journeys — Native  Ministers — The  Queer 
Sermon — Happy  Christmas  Times — New  Year's,  the  Great 
Day — Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou — The  Kissing  Day — Varied  Ex- 
periences— The  Great  Feast — Happy  Indians — Thanksgiving. 

Sundays  in  the  North  Land !  Yes,  there  are  such 
clays,  and  they  come  once  in  seven  in  the  wild  North 
Land  as  elsewhere,  and  right  welcome  they  are ;  for 
they  are  days  of  gladness,  not  sadness — days  in 
which  loving  homage  is  paid  to  the  loving  Father 
who  is  also  the  God  of  nature ;  and  as  nature  rejoices 
in  his  bounteous  care  and  infinite  wisdom,  why 
should  not  those  in  his  kingdom  of  grace  also  be 
happy  in  the  sunshine  of  his  love? 

"Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness,"  was  the  motto 
of  Mr.  Ross's  religious  life,  and  everyone  under  his 
influence  or  care  felt  that  he  was  a  genuine  man  and 
a  safe  leader  to  follow.  His  religious  life,  while 
decided  and  settled,  was  unobtrusive  and  kindly.  It 
embraced  the  two  commands,  love  to  God  and  love 
to  his  fellow-man. 

The  mission  some  years  before  established  among 
the  Indians  had  been  very  successful,  and  a  capa- 
cious church  was  there  built.  Every  Sunday  a  large 
portion  of  the  family  went  from  Sagasta-weekee  at 
least  once  a  day,  and  there  worshiped.  The  morn- 
ing service  was  conducted  in  the  English  language. 

no 


ii 


i;  * 


5' 


*'}' 


Vlission — 
Iter — Na- 
Sagasta- 
he  Queer 
he  Great 
ried  Ex- 
^sgiving. 

are  such 
d  North 
are;  for 
■days  in 
f  Father 

rejoices 
m,   why 

also  be 

e  motto 
Inder  his 

nan  and 
|e,  while 

dly.    It 

,nd  love 

among 
a  capa- 

a  large 
iekee  at 
morn- 
Inguage. 


u 

3 

U 


rt 
C5 

<^ 

u 

a 
a 


N 


w 


I'    'ii 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

This  was  clone  for  two  reasons :  one  was  for  the  in- 
struction and  profit  of  all  who  spoke  that  tongue; 
the  other  was  that  the  Indians  who  were  learning 
the  language  might  become  the  more  speedily  famil- 
iarized with  it.  The  afternoon  and  evening  services 
were  conducted  in  the  Indian  language.  However, 
if  a  number  understanding  the  English  language 
only  happened  to  be  present,  both  languages  were 
used  with  the  help  of  an  interpreter.  The  church 
was  on  the  shore  of  a  pretty  lake,  and  it  was  a  very 
pleasant  sight  to  see  the  gathering  of  the  congrega- 
tion. It  was  one  quite  different  from  what  is  gen- 
erally seen  as  crowds  usually  gather  for  worship  at 
the  sound  of  the  church  bell.  Here  were  no  long 
streets,  or  even  common  roads  or  sidewalks.  The 
homes  of  these  Indians,  both  houses  and  wigwams, 
had  been  built  around  the  lake  shore  on  the  various 
picturesque  points,  not  far  from  the  water's  edge. 
Every  family  wanted  easy  access  to  the  lake  for 
water,  and  none  of  them  wished  to  be  far  away  from 
the  landing  places  where  they  kept  their  canoes. 
The  result  was  that  it  looked  on  Sundays,  when  they 
came  to  the  church  in  groups,  as  if  there  were  a 
pathway  from  every  dwelling  place.  Then,  as  large 
numbers  of  the  Indians  lived  out  on  points  and 
islands  away  from  the  one  on  which  the  mission 
premises  stood,  the  people,  in  the  pleasant  summer 
time,  came  from  their  various  homes  in  their  canoes 
to  the  house  of  God.  Very  picturesque  indeed  was 
the  sight,  as  for  an  hour  or  so  before  the  time  of 
service  the  lake  seemed  dotted  with  the  well-filled 

canoes  of  the  well-dressed  crowds  of  Indian  men, 

III 


1" 

H 

rjl 

!., 


iiit' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

women,  and  children.  In  winter  the  scene  was  com- 
pletely changed.  The  frost  had  hid  the  sunlit,  rip- 
pling waves  under  an  icy  pavement,  as  hard  as 
granite.  Frost  and  snow  and  ice  were  everywhere. 
For  the  summer  Sunday  trips  to  the  church  Mr. 
Ross  had  several  large  sailing  boats  and  safe  skiffs 
that  would  hold  all  who  wished  to  go  to  the  morning 
service.  In  one,  manned  by  four  sturdy  oarsmen, 
Mr.  Ross  and  his  family  generally  went  when  the 
weather  w^as  at  all  favorable.  In  winter  the  dogs 
were  all  called  into  requisition,  and  the  sight  at  the 
church,  when  on  a  bright  day  the  crowds  were  as- 
sembling, was  as  pleasant  and  interesting  as  in  the 
summer  time,  when  on  the  bright  waters  were  seen 
coming  the  many  beautiful,  well-loaded  canoes. 
From  the  Hudson  Bay  trading  post  there  were  al- 
ways a  goodly  number  present  both  in  summer  and 
winter.  The  officials  and  clerks  prided  themselves 
on  the  quality  of  their  dogs  and  the  beauty  and 
completeness  of  their  carioles  and  harness.  Then 
some  of  the  Indians  had  very  valuable  trains,  and  it 
was  interesting  to  notice  the  number  of  persons  that 
would  be  crowded  into  or  on  these  dog-sleds  and  the 
strength  of  the  dogs  in  pulling  them.  Very  primi- 
tive were  some  of  their  sleds,  and  mongrel  indeed 
were  many  of  the  dogs  attached  to  them.  Yet  it 
was  surprising  to  see  how  rapidly  even  the  rudest- 
looking  sledges  got  over  the  ground.  The  dogs 
seemed  to  know  that  it  was  the  day  of  religious 
worship,  and  therefore  their  duty  was  to  get  their 
masters  and  mistresses  to  the  church  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible.  Then  on  the  return  trip,  ot  course, 

112 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


com- 
:,  rip- 
rd  as 
^here. 
h  Mr. 
skiffs 
►rning 
smen, 
m  the 
:  dogs 
at  the 
;re  as- 
in  tiie 
e  seen 
;anoes. 
ere  al- 
er  and 
iselves 
y  and 

Then 

and  it 
is  that 
nd  the 

primi- 

ndeed 
lYet  it 

ludest- 
dogs 

gious 
their 
little 

tourse, 


there  must  be  no  delay  in  getting  them  back  for 
dinner,  r'or  some  winters  a  great  tame  black  bear 
used  to  be  attached  every  Sunday  to  a  long  dog-sled. 
He  was  called  Napoleon,  and  Alec  and  he  became 
great  friends.  When  ordered  to  start  he  would  dash 
off  in  his  rough  galloping  way  and  keep  up  the  one 
steady  pace  until  the  church  was  reached.  It  seemed 
to  make  but  little  difference,  such  was  his  strength, 
whether  two  or  ten  persons  were  hanging  on  the 
sled.  At  the  church  he  was  tied  to  a  post,  and  there 
quietly  remained  until  the  service  was  over,  when 
he  at  the  same  rapid  rate  drew  his  load  home  again. 
Toward  spring  Napoleon  disappeared  and  was  not 
seen  for  months. 

It  was  understood  that  there  was  to  be  no  racing 
on  Sunday,  yet  somehow  everybody  seemed  to  want 
to  go  just  about  as  fast  as  possible.  The  terrible 
cold  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  this.  Alec 
was  generally  sent  on  first,  or  else  requested  to  wait 
some  time  after  the  others  had  .started,  as  his  dogs 
had  become  possessed  with  the  habit  of  catching  up 
and  going  ahead  of  everything  in  sight. 

"Supposing,  Alec,"  said  Mr.  Morrison,  a  young 
clerk  of  the  Company's  service,  "that  it  were  not 
Sunday,  I  should  like  to  run  ahead  of  your  dogs  and 
show  you  what  traveling  is." 

"Supposing  it  were  not  Sunday,  I  should  like  to 
see  you  do  it,"  was  Alec's  reply. 

"Supposing  it  were  not  Sunday,  here  goes,"  was 

the  saucy  challenge  of  this  young  clerk,  who  thought 

he  had  the  fleetest  train  in  the  whole  district. 

"Supposing  it  is  Sunday,"  shouted  Alec  back  to 
8  113 


M 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

him,  for  they  were  both  on  the  Sagasta-weekee 
route.  'I'll  just  go  on  and  tell  them  you  will  be 
along  after  a  while  and  dine  with  us." 

It  was  considerably  later  when  the  clerk  arrived. 
That  afternoon,  in  conversation  with  Mr.  Ross,  he 
gravely  stated  that  one  of  the  temptations  of  that 
country  was  a  disposition  to  travel  rapidly,  to  and 
from  church,  on  the  Lord's  day.  Frank  and  Sam, 
as  well  as  Mr.  Ross,  had  been  promptly  informed 
by  Alec  of  the  challenge  and  the  race  with  this 
young  gentleman,  and  so  when  Alec  heard  the  re- 
mark just  mentioned  he  gravely  replied : 

"Well,  Mr.  Morrison,  you  need  not  have  any 
qualms  of  conscience  about  your  speed  to-day.  We 
started  about  the  same  time  from  the  church,  and 
it  was  a  long  time  after  I  reached  home  ere  you 
arrived." 

This  bit  of  sarcasm,  so  well  put  in,  so  tickled  Sam 
that  he  fairly  exploded,  and  with  his  handkerchief 
in  his  mouth  he  rushed  out  of  the  room.  Soon  after 
he  was  joined  by  Frank,  and  together  they  laughed 
until  they  were  sore.  The  hypocrisy  of  the  young 
fellow  was  so  evident  that  they  were  delighted  with 
Alec's  comforting  remarks. 

Mr.   Hurlburt,  the  missionary,  generally  came 

over  and  held  an  evening  service  at  Mr.   Ross's 

house  every  second  Sabbath.    The  alternate  Sabbath 

evening  was  spent  in  holding  a  similar  service  at 

the  fort.    These  services  were  very  delightful.    The 

boys  often  drove  over  to  the  mission  services  in  the 

afternoon  with  their  trains  and  brought  back  with 

them  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurlburt,  and  when  it  could  be 

114 


YS 

1-weekee 
I  will  be 

arrived. 
Ross,  he 
5  of  that 
f,  to  and 
ind  Sam, 
informed 
with  this 
d  the  re- 
have  any 
day.    We 
urch,  and 
;  ere  you 

kled  Sam 
dkerchief 
lOon  after 
r  laughed 
he  young 
ted  with 

Illy  came 
|r.  Ross's 
Sabbath 
lervice  at 
ful.    The 
tes  in  the 
lack  with 
could  be 


•m 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

arranged — which    was    frequently   done — the   two 
sweet  young  daughters. 

To  Frank,  with  his  powerful  train,  was  generally 
assigned  the  missionary,  who  was  a  large,  portly 
man;  to  Alec,  with  his  beautiful  fleet  train,  was 
assigned  the  pleasure  of  bringing  Mrs.  Hurlburt, 
and  at  first  Sam  had  the  exquisite  delight  of  tucking 
the  robes  of  rich  beaver  around  the  fair  young- 
daughters  from  the  mission  home  and  carefully 
bringing  them  over  to  Sagasta-weekee.  This  pleas- 
ure was,  however,  soon  taken  from  him.  It  was 
indeed  a  happy  group  that  assembled  around  the 
hospitable  tea  table  those  delightful  evenings.  The 
boys  used  to  plead  so  hard  to  be  allowed  to  drive 
1)ack  with  the  loads  that  they  generally  succeeded  in 
having  their  way,  although  Mr.  Ross  always  took 
the  precaution  of  sending  an  extra  team  of  dogs 
under  the  guidance  of  an  experienced  Indian.  This 
was  necessary,  as  not  only  did  vicious,  mad  wolves 
sometimes  cross  that  route,  but  blizzard  storms 
might  suddenly  come  up,  and  then  it  would  have 
gone  hard  with  the  boys  with  their  young  dogs  to 
have  kept  the  trail. 

Mr.  Hurlburt  generally  rode  home  In  the  extra 
cariole  driven  by  this  Indian.  This  enabled  Frank 
to  take  the  elder  of  the  young  ladies,  and  we  must 
confess  that,  although  Frank  was  ver-  fond  of  the 
missionary,  he  had  not  the  slightest  objection  in 
changing  him  for  the  daughter. 

Frequently  the  missionary,  with  some  faithful 
Indians,  used  to  make  long  journeys  with  the  dog- 
trains  to  distant  places  where  no  one  had  ever  gone 

"5 


r 


I  =ii 


!% 


Mi  I 

m 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


'  •.':* 


.,!■«       'Si  I 


before  with  the  Bil)le  and  its  sweet  story  of  God's 
love  to  man.  During  his  absence  his  pulpit  would  be 
supplied  by  native  ministers,  who,  though  not  as  yet 
ordained,  were  eloquent  in  their  way,  and  were  a 
blessing  to  their  fellow-countrymen.  Even  the  white 
people  who  understood  the  Indian  language  used  to 
listen  with  great  pleasure  to  some  of  these  gifted 
sons  of  the  forest  as  they  preached  from  full  hearts 
of  the  love  of  God  as  revealed  in  the  gift  of  his  Son. 
In  after  years  some  of  these  younger  Indians  were 
educated  and  ordained,  and  are  now  regularly  set- 
tled as  ministers  among  their  own  people.  There 
were  some  of  them,  however,  who  aspired  to  be 
ministers  who  were  not  a  success.  Some  were  too 
ambitious.  Some,  not  content  with  talking  about 
what  they  knew  themselves,  must  launch  out  into 
deep  :^aters,  and  so  speedily  they  came  to  grief. 
Constantly  did  the  missionary  have  them  under  his 
eye,  and  many  were  the  lessons  he  was  giving  them. 
Some  would,  in  spite  of  his  best  efforts,  get  beyond 
him.  For  example,  one  ambitious  would-be  minister 
said  in  his  address  before  quite  a  large  audience : 

"Brothers,  the  missionary  says  the  world  is  round. 
I  don't  believe  it.    It  is  flat  as  the  top  of  that  stove." 

y\s  he  said  this  he  pointed  to  the  top  of  the  great 

flat  iron  stove  in  which  a  fire  w  as  burning,  for  it  was 

in  the  depth  of  winter.     Of  course  the  missionary 

was  informed  of  this  daring  brother's  unbelief,  and 

a  good  lesson  in  geography  had  to  be  administered 

to  him  by  means  of  the  map  of  the  two  hemispheres 

hanging  on  the  wall.     He  manfully  acknowledged 

to  the  missionary  h's  error,  and  promised  to  make  it 

ii6 


ri 


vs 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


)f  God's 
vould  be 
ot  as  yet 
[  were  a 
he  white 
;  used  to 
se  gifted 
ill  hearts 
his  Son. 
ans  were 
larly  set- 
;.     There 
•ed  to  be 
were  too 
ng  about 
L  out  into 
to  grief, 
under  his 
ing  them, 
et  beyond 
minister 
dience : 
is  round, 
at  stove." 
the  great 
for  it  was 
[lissionary 
elief,  and 
inistered 
mispheres 
owledged 
o  make  it 


right  with  the  audience  the  next  time  he  stood  up  to 
address  them.  This  he  endeavored  to  do  in  the 
following  manner : 

'"Brothers,  I  made  a  mistake  when  I  last  addressed 
you,  when  I  said  I  did  not  believe  that  the  world 
was  round.  It  is  round.  I  have  seen  it.  It  is  like 
two  moons  flattened  against  the  wall." 

Of  course  this  would  never  do,  and  so  the  mis- 
sionary had  to  take  him  in  hand  again  and  give  him 
another  lesson.  This  time  he  used  his  large  ball-like 
glol)e,  swung  on  its  axis  in  its  frame,  which  was 
supported  on  three  feet.  Patiently  the  minister 
showed  him  how  the  world  was  like  a  great  ball, 
round  in  every  direction.  Attentively  the  Indian 
listened,  and  carefully  examined  the  globe  and  the 
frame  in  which  it  hung. 

'^A^es,"  he  said  to  his  teacher,  "I  was  wrong.  I 
have  it  now.    I  will  explain  it  to  the  people." 

When  the  first  opportunity  offered  he  was  as  good 
as  his  w  Td,  and  so  he  thus  addressed  them : 

"Brothers,  I  seem  to  be  hard  to  learn,  but  I  have 
got  it  now.  Yes,  the  world  is  round  every  way.  It 
is  not  flat  even  one  way.  It  is  round.  Yes,  it  is 
round,  but  then  it  stands  upon  three  legs." 

So  another  -and  even  more  thorough  lesson  was 
needed  to  knock  those  three  legs  away. 

As  a  general  rule  the  Indians  who  were  appointed 
to  speak  kept  within  their  own  depths,  and  very 
sensible  and  appropriate  were  their  utterances. 

Christmas  Day  and  New  Year's  Day  were  great 

times  of  feasting  and  gladness  at  the  mission  village 

among  the  Christian  Indians.     On  Ciu"istmas  Day 

117 


ler^l 


m 


(f 


p   1 


il 


il 


il:  :' 


Winter  Auventitres  of  Three  Boys 

all  the  men,  women,  and  children,  arrayed  in  their 
very  best  finery,  called  at  the  mission  house,  and 
were  each  treated  to  a  large  cup  of  strong,  well- 
sweetened  tea  and  a  big  bun.  Then  they  went  to  the 
fur-trading  post,  and  there  received  the  gratuities  of 
tobacco  and  other  things.  Many  called  at  Sagasta- 
weekee,  and  were  cordially  received.  The  boys  were 
very  much  interested  in  them,  and  took  great  pleas- 
ure in  assisting  Mrs.  Ross,  as  on  this  day  it  is  ex- 
pected that  the  white  people  only  will  pass  the  tea 
and  cakes,  and  with  their  own  hands  also  give  their 
Christmas  gifts  to  the  poor  and  needy.  In  such  a 
land  there  are  many  who  require  a  great  deal  of  just 
such  help.  After  the  matters  of  hospitality  had  been 
attended  to  there  were  many  sports  on  the  ice,  and 
into  these  all  who  desired  to  enter  were  cordially 
welcomed.  The  boys  were  in  their  glory  in  these 
sports,  and  gallantly  held  their  own  against  the 
lighter  but  more  agile  Indians.  In  the  evening  all 
the  trains  that  could  be  mustered  \vere  harnessed 
up,  and  everybody  who  could  get  away  went  over 
to  the  mission  church  for  the  Christmas  services, 
which,  on  account  of  the  elaborate  musical  prepara- 
tions, were  held  in  the  evening  this  year.  The  mis- 
sionary, aided  by  his  musical  family,  had  been  for 
weeks  diligently  employed  in  teaching  the  Indians 
to  sing  Christmas  carols  and  other  appropriate  songs 
for  this  joyous  occasion.  The  native  choir  acquitted 
themselves  admirably,  and  everything  passed  off  to 
the  pleasure  and  delight  of  all. 

New  Year's  Day  is,  however,  the  big  day  to  the 

Indians,  as  it  is  on  that  day  that  the  great  annual 

ii8 


■S 

in  their 
ise,  and 
g,  well- 
It  to  the 
uities  of 
Sagasta- 
Dys  were 
:at  pleas- 
it  is  ex- 
s  the  tea 
rive  their 
n  such  a 
al  of  just 
had  been 
e  ice,  and 
cordially 
in  these 
ainst  the 
ening  all 
|harnessed 
^vent  over 
services, 
prepara- 
The  mis- 
been  for 
iC  Indians 
|iate  songs 
acquitted 
,sed  off  to 


> 


G 
O 

X! 
u 
u 

3 

o 


11 

■  .41 


4 


[lay  to  the 
tat  annual 


>-li 


\^^ 


!r!    !' 


*f 


III 


M: 


i't. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


feast  is  held  in  the  church.  This  Christian  festival 
has  taken  the  place  of  the  once  heathen  dog  feast 
and  other  pagan  ceremonials  that  the  Indians  held, 
with  disgusting  rites,  before  the  missioni;*-  es  came 
among  them. 

New  Year's  Day  is  called  by  the  Indians  Oo-che- 
me-ke-se-gou,  which  literally  means  "the  kissing 
day."  On  this  day  the  men  claim  the  right  to  kiss 
every  woman  they  meet,  and,  strange  to  say,  every 
woman  expects  to  be  kissed,  and  is  quite  offended  if 
she  is  passed  by  without  being  saluted  in  this  way, 
which  is  so  much  more  ancient  and  historic  than  the 
meaningless  modern  one  of  shaking  hands.  This 
Indian  definition  of  New  Year's  Day  vastly  amused 
the  boys,  and  when  in  the  morning  Mrs.  Ross  and 
Wenonah  came  in  they,  of  course,  had  to  be  saluted 
in  the  orthodox  fashion.  This  was  very  agreeable, 
but  when  the  Indian  cook  came  into  the  dining  room, 
in  answer  to  Mrs.  Ross's  ringing,  Wenonah  shouted 
out  to  the  bovs : 

"This  is  Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou,  and  you  must  all 
kiss  Nahkoomah,  the  cook." 

Nahkoomah  was  not  at  all  handsome,  but  she 
knew  what  day  it  was  and  claimed  her  rights,  and 
so  when  the  boys  made  a  rush  to  get  out  she  blocked 
the  way  in  that  direction,  while  Wenonah  bravely 
cut  off  the  retreat  by  the  other  door.  Seeing  them- 
selves thus  captured,  they  gracefully  accepted  the 
inevitable.  A  resounding  smack  was  given  her  first 
by  Sam,  which  was  gingerly  imitated  by  Frank  and 
Alec.    The  boys  afterward  said  that  it  paid  grandly 

to  give  the  cook  the  national  kiss,  as  from  that  day 

119 


■I 

■'.■ill 


,4 


;l 


V     1 


m 


M: 


m:.  n 


i  I 


i  >- 1 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

forward  she  was  ever  pleased  to  prepare  them  the 
best  dishes  she  could. 

"I  say,  Frank  and  Alec,"  mischievously  exclaimed 
Wenonah,  ''don't  you  know  they  keep  Oo-che-me- 
ke-se-gou  over  at  the  mission?" 

This  sally  very  much  amused  all,  and  of  course 
gave  Sam  a  chance  to  remark  that  it  was  an  elegant 
day  for  a  sleigh  ride;  that  he  thought  Frank  and 
Alec's  dogs  needed  some  exercise;  that  the  road  to 
the  mission  was  in  capital  condition,  and  perhaps 
they  had  better  be  off,  and  the  sooner  the  better,  for 
fear  the  young  ladies  should  wear  the  glass  of  the 
windows  thin,  looking  for  their  coming.  Mrs.  Ross 
here  interposed,  and  stopped  Sam's  voluble  utter- 
ances by  saying  that  they  were  all  going  over  a  little 
after  noon,  in  response  to  a  very  cordial  invitation 
from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurlburt,  to  witness  the  Indian 
feast  and  dine  with  them  in  the  church.  This  was 
great  news  to  all,  and  as  there  were  only  a  couple  of 
hours  for  preparation  there  was  hurrying  in  every 
direction. 

"Put  on  your  best  bibs  and  tuckers,  my  hearties," 
said  Sam  to  Frank  and  Alec,  "for  this  day  is  the 
event  of  your  lives.  Rig  yourselves  up  so  gallantly 
and  finely  that  the  sweet,  blushing  lassies  over  be- 
yond will  be  so  struck  with  your  noble  presences  that 
they  will,  for  the  day  at  least,  imagine  themselves 
Indian  maidens  enough  to  at  least  comply  with  the 
customs  of  the  day."  But  ere  Sam  had  finished  his 
long  harangue,  the  blushing  Frank  and  Alec  were 
hunting  up  their  best  apparel  and  selecting  the 
warmest  robes  for  their  dog-sleds. 

120 


s 

lem  the 

claimed 
che-me- 

i  course 
elegant 
ink  and 
road  to 
perhaps 
itter,  for 
,s  of  the 
TS.  Ross 
le  utter- 
IV  a  little 
iivitation 
e  Indian 
This  was 
:otiple  of 
in  every 

learties," 

ly  is  the 
gallantly 
lover  be- 
nces  that 
em  selves 
with  the 
fished  his 
llec  were 
ting  the 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Wliile  all  ire  getting  ready  at  Sagasta-wcekee  let 
us  take  a  look  at  the  feast,  or  rather  first  at  the 
preparations  necessary  in  such  a  land  to  feed  ten  or 
twelve  hundred  hungry  Indians.  About  two  months 
before  the  time  a  great  council  is  held.  The  mis- 
sionary is  invariably  asked  to  be  the  chairman,  and 
a  clever  writer  of  the  Indian  syllabics  is  appointed 
secretary.  Then,  as  a  matter  of  form,  it  is  moved 
by  the  chief  and  seconded  by  some  other  Indian  of 
influence,  "That  we  have  the  usual  feast  on  Oo-che- 
me-ke-se-gou  day."  This  is,  of  course,  carried  amid 
Indian  applause.  Then  the  question  next  asked  is : 
"How  much  will  each  supply  to  make  it  a  grand 
success?"  Thus  there  is  started  a  spirit  of  emula- 
tion that  would  astonish  some  white  folks. 

Big  Tom  says:  "I  saw  the  tracks  of  a  moose.  I 
will  give  half  of  him,  when  I  shoot  him,"  he  adds, 
while  the  quiet  laugh  goes  round. 

Mustagan  says :  'T  saw  the  steam  curl  up  from  a 
bear's  den.  I  will  give  the  largest  bear,  when  I  get 
him." 

Soquatum  says :  'T  have  just  heard  of  the  coming 
of  the  reindeer.    I  will  give  one." 

Thus  it  goes  on  as  rapidly  as  the  secretary  can 
write  their  names  and  promises.  Those  hunters 
famous  for  killing  the  game  that  is  good  for  food 
promise,  as  these  already  referred  to  have  done,  all 
kinds  of  animals,  from  a  moose  to  wild  cats  and 
beavers.  Those  hunters  whose  skill  is  in  killing  the 
rich  fur-bearing  animals  promise  to  exchange  por- 
tions of  the  valuable  products  of  their  huntings  for 
flour,  tea,  sugar,  and  raisins  at  the  trading  posts. 

121 


i! 


^i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Everybody  was  expected  to  promise  something,  and 
then  he  was  to  do  his  best  to  get  it. 

This  mctliod  of  getting  up  a  feast  was  a  unique 
one.  The  idea  of  subscribing  bears  that  were  in 
their  dens  a  hundred  miles  away,  or  moose,  or  rein- 
deer, or  other  wild  animals  that  were  roaming  in  the 
forests  or  on  the  barren  plains  many  scores  of  miles 
distant,  was,  to  say  the  least,  very  different  from 
civilized  methods.  When  the  council  breaks  up 
every  man  is  interested  in  securing  what  he  has 
promised,  or  something  better.  It  often  happens 
that  the  man  who  has  promised  a  couple  of  wild  cats 
succeeds  in  finding  a  good,  full  beaver  house.  A 
couple  of  these  are  worth  more  than  the  cats.  The 
man  who  promised  a  reindeer  may  be  lucky  enough 
to  kill  a  moose,  and  thus  it  is.  However,  they  all  try 
to  do  the  very  best  they  can.  As  these  various  sup- 
plies are  brouglit  in  they  are  stowed  away  in  the 
large  fish  house  of  the  missionary,  where  they  speed- 
ily freeze  solid,  and  are  thus  kept  sweet  and  good 
until  required  for  use.  About  four  days  before  the 
feast  the  wife  of  the  missionary  calls  to  her  help  a 
number  of  clever,  industrious  Indian  women,  and 
from  morning  until  night  the  cooking  goes  on. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  feast  day  the  seats  are 
all  removed  from  the  church,  and  long  tables  are  im- 
provised that  stretch  from  nearly  end  to  end  of  the 
building.  One  long  table  is  prepared  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  church  for  all  the  whites,  who  are  spe- 
cially invited  by  letter  to  attend.  As  they  have  all 
contributed  largely  to  the  feast,  of  course,  they  are 
welcomed. 

122 


IN  riiE  Great  Loxii  Land 

It  is  an  interesting  siglit  to  see  that  happy,  ex- 
pectant throng.  Everybtxly,  Christian  and  pagan, 
is  welcome.  No  questions  are  asked.  See  the  piles 
of  provisions.  Surely  there  is  enough  and  to  spare. 
Well,  they  will  need  a  great  (luantity,  for  Indians 
have  great  appetites,  and  then  there  are  many  sick 
and  feeble  who  could  not  come  to-day,  and  they  must 
he  remembered.  There  are  over  a  thousand  out  to- 
day, and  while  some  scores  are  busy  preparing  the 
feast  the  others  skate,  play  football,  toboggan,  and 
in  other  ways  amuse  themselves.  Of  course  the  in- 
mates of  the  mission  house  are  busy.  To  the  mis- 
sionary and  his  wife  the  Indians  all  look  for  direc- 
tion and  guidance.  This  is  necessary,  that  every- 
thing may  go  ofif  without  friction.  In  addition,  they 
have  to  be  on  hand  to  receive  such  white  people  as 
may  come  from  the  various  trading  posts  and  other 
places. 

See,  here  they  come  from  Sagasta-weekee !  Alec 
is  at  the  head  of  the  company.  His  lleet  dogs  are 
never  happy  now  except  when  first  in  every  crowd. 
Cozily  wrapped  up  in  fur  robes  in  his  cariole  are 
Wenonah  and  Roderick.  Sam  has  brought  over 
Mr.  Ross,  and  to  Frank  has  been  intrusted  Mrs. 
Ross.  The  boys  are  now  skillful  drivers,  and  so  no 
mishap  has  occurred.  Cordially  are  they  welcomed, 
and  as  it  is  Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou  the  ladies  are  gal- 
lantly kissed  by  the  gentlemen.  With  loving  ten- 
derness Mrs.  Hurlburt  kissed  the  three  boys,  and 
said  she  would  do  so  in  place  of  their  precious 
mothers,  who  would  doui)tless  think  of  them  on  that 

glad  day.    Then  she  turned  them  over  to  her  young 

123 


I 


ii' 


J*- (I 


m 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


»!      1;^ 


!;;     a 


:!ti 


folks,  while  she  hurried  off  to  meet  the  later  arrivals 
from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  fort. 

Sam  was  first  escorted  in  by  Wenonah,  who,  as 
she  met  the  young  ladies  of  the  mission,  exclaimed : 

"Now  this  is  Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou,  and  we  are  all 
of  that  way  to-day." 

Bravely  did  the  blushing  Sam  pass  through  the 
ordeal,  and  then  Alec  and  Frank,  in  a  way  that 
seemed  to  come  quite  natural  to  them,  saluted  in  a 
good  old-fashioned  way  the  two  fair  ladies  who  had 
come  into  their  young  lives  and  were  much  in  their 
minds. 

'*Sure,"  said  Sam,  "that's  not  bad  medicine  to 
take,  at  all,  at  all." 

At  this  there  was  a  great  laugh,  for  Sam  had 
blushed  and  stammered  and  acted  as  though  it  were 
an  ordeal  of  great  solemnity.  There  was  a  lot  of 
fun  and  pleasantry  for  the  next  hour  or  so  among 
these  happy  young  people,  while  the  older  ones  were 
busy  looking  after  matters  pertaining  to  the  feast. 
Frank  and  Alec  entertained  the  young  ladies'  friends 
with  the  latest  news  that  had  come  in  by  the  Christ- 
mas packet.  Sam,  with  Wenoi.ah  and  Roderick, 
played  all  sorts  of  pranks  all  over  the  house.  When 
later  arrivals  came  in  and  gravely  kissed,  not  only 
the  elderly  ladies  of  the  party,  but  also  the  beautiful 
young  maidens.  Alec  and  Frank's  faces  \vere  studies 
that  very  much  amused  Sam. 

"Indeed,"  he  afterward  said,  "I  tlioujg^ht  it  was 

going  to  be  pistols  and  coffee  for  four,  ruid  may  I 

be  there  to  see  the  fun." 

As  the  tender  passion  had  not  yet  struck  him,  he 

124 


1 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

could  thus  afford  to  be  amused  at  the  ebulHtions  of 
jealousy  that  rolled  so  ominously  into  the  young 
hearts  of  the  chums.  "Black  as  thunderclouds  were 
their  faces,"  he  said,  "as  they  saw  these  sweet  young 
ladies,  whom  they  in  their  callow  affections  would 
already  wholly  monopolize,  kissed  by  a  dozen  differ- 
ent gentlemen  during  the  day." 

"How  do  you  like  'O-jimmy-catch-the-cow'  day, 
or  whatever  you  call  it?"  he  said  to  Frank,  as  he  saw 
him  glowering  at  a  Hudson  Bay  officer  who  had 
just  kissed  his  sweetheart. 

"I  don't  like  it  at  all,"  Frank  replied,  with  gritted 
teeth. 

"You  mean  you  don't  like  it  for  other  folks," 
replied  Sam.  "You  took  your  medicine  yourself 
very  well,  if  I  am  a  good  judge,  especially  when  you 
so  lovingly  displayed  your  osculatory  skill  on  the 
sweet  lips  of  peerless  Rachel,  whom  that  young  prig 
of  a  Hudson  Bay  Company's  clerk  is  now  approach- 
ing." 

"I'll  fight  him,"  said  Frank,  and  his  hot  breath 
and  clinched  fists  showed  that  he  would  have  loved 
to  pitch  in  just  then. 

"No,  you  will  not,"  said  Sam.  "Hot-headed 
Englishman  though  you  are,  you  are  too  much  of  a 
gentleman  to  make  a  row  in  this  clergyman's  house, 
and  about  his  young  daughter.  But,  Frank,  I  will 
give  you  a  bit  of  comfort.  While  the  beautiful 
Rachel  gave  you  her  sweet  lips  to  kiss,  she  only 
turned  her  rosy  cheek  to  all  the  other  fellows,  me 
included.  So  now  no  more  of  your  English,  'I'll 
punch  your  'er.d  for  you.'  " 

125 


'M\ 


I 


11 


■Hii 


1.   'i' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Here  Sam's  advice,  helpful  and  needed  as  it  was, 
abruptly  ended,  as  everybody  was  summoned  into 
the  church  to  the  great  feast.  Frank  was  happy 
once  again,  as  he  was  selected  to  take  in  his  sweet 
Rachel,  while  Alec  had  her  younger  sister,  Winnie, 
as  his  partner.  Much  to  his  delight,  Sam  came  in 
with  Wenonah  and  Roderick.  Indeed,  they  were 
almost  one  and  inseparable  on  such  occasions. 

Of  the  great  feast  and  how  it  was  enjoyed  by  all 
we  have  written  in  other  volumes.  Suffice  to  say 
that  there  w^as  abundance  for  all.  In  addition,  great 
bundles  of  food,  with  packages  of  tea  and  sugar, 
were  sent  to  every  sick  or  aged  or  feeble  person,  with 
loving  good  wishes  of  all.  The  feast  was  pro- 
nounced a  great  success.  At  the  evening  meeting, 
where,  as  in  former  years,  the  Indians  gathered, 
with  the  chief  in  the  chair,  and  where  many  speeches 
were  delivered  by  the  eloquent  ones  of  the  village, 
it  was  observed  that  among  the  happy  things  said 
there  were  words  of  gratitude  to  their  kind,  loving 
missionary  and  his  family,  and  to  the  other  white 
friends,  in  every  address. 

It  was  also  noticed  that  many  of  the  Christian 

Indians,  rising  higher  in  their  thoughts,  saw  in  all 

these  blessings  that  had  come  to  them  the  good  hand 

of  the  Great  Spirit,  their  heavenly  Father,  and  so  to 

him  their  grateful  prayers  ascended,  and  the  most 

frequent    word    uttered    was    "nanaskoomowin" — 

"thanksgiving." 

ia6 


Alt. 


OYS 

as  it  was, 
)ned  into 
as  happy 
his  sweet 
Winnie, 
came  in 
ley  were 
ms. 

ed  by  all 
:e  to  say 
on,  great 
d  sugar, 
5on,  with 
vas  pro- 
meeting, 
gathered, 
speeches 
village, 
ngs  said 
I,  loving 
^r  white 


I. 


'hristian 
w  in  all 
od  hand 
nd  so  to 
he  most 
)win" — 


a. 


H 


a 


<^ 


SI 

3 
O 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Indian  School  Examinations — The  Prizes — Noble  In- 
dian Boys — The  Skates  to  Kepastick — The  Various  Sports — 
Foot  Races — The  Skating  Race — Tricky  Clerk  Outwitted— 
Frank  and  Kepastick  Tie  as  Winners — Football — Hockey. 

The  day  for  the  examinations  and  sports  at  the 
mission  school  arriv^ed  in  due  time.  Fortunately, 
it  was  a  very  beautiful  day,  although  it  was  many 
degrees  below  zero.  But  nobody  now  minded  that. 
There  were  no  fogs,  or  mists,  or  damps,  and  the  dry, 
steady  cold  is  always  much  more  healthy  and  in- 
vigorating than  changeable  weather  in  any  land. 
Everybody  invited  was  present,  and  so  the  day's 
full  program  was  well  carried  out. 

Mr.  McTavish,  a  chief  factor  in  the  Hudson  Bav 
Company's  service  and  the  chief  officer  at  the  Nor- 
way House  trading  post,  presided  at  the  school  ex- 
aminations, which  began  promptly  at  nine  o'clock. 
The  schoolhouse  was  packed  with  the  children  and 
their  friends,  v,::cept  the  large  platform  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  schoolroom,  on  which  were  seated  the 
white  visitors  from  Sagasta- A^eekee  and  the  trading 
posts  and  mission. 

The  children  were  first  examined  in  their  reading 
lessons  in  both  languages,  Cree  and  English.  In 
their  own  language  they  used  the  syllabic  characters, 
invented  and  perfected  by  the  Rev.  James  Evans,  the 
founder  of  this  mission.  These  syllables,  as  their 
name  indicates,  each  represent  a  syllable.  The  re- 
sult is  there  is  no  spelling,  and  just  as  soon  as  a 

127 


lit;  a 


il' 


I  ^  i 


HMHMMI 


'I    I      I 


n 


!,' 


if  > 

J'  ) 

I- 


tj 


J     (' 


'i) 


]!; 


\f 


H 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

pupil,  young  or  old,  has  once  mastered  these  char- 
acters he  begins  to  read.  Three  weeks  or  a  month 
is  considered  quite  sufficient  time  in  which  to  teach 
a  person  of  ordinary  intelligence  to  read  fluently. 

Mr.  Evans  was  several  years  in  perfecting  this 
invention.  He  begged  from  the  traders  the  sheet 
lead  that  is  found  around  the  tea  in  tea  chests. 
Then,  making  little  bars  of  this  lead,  he  carved  out 
his  first  type.  His  first  paper  was  made  out  of  birch 
bark.  His  first  press  he  made  himself.  His  first  ink 
was  made  out  of  soot  mixed  with  sturgeon  oil. 
Many  were  his  difficulties  and  discouragements,  but 
he  triumphed  over  them  all,  and  now  here  were  hun- 
dreds of  Indians  reading  in  their  own  language  the 
word  of  God. 

The  whole  1  "^  le,  with  some  hundreds  of  hymns 
and  a  few  volumes  of  good  books,  Pilgrim's  Prog- 
ress, The  Path  of  Life,  and  others,  have  been  trans- 
lated and  printed  in  these  syllabic  characters.  The 
old  Indians  prize  them  very  much,  but  it  is  interest- 
ing to  note  that,  just  as  soon  as  the  younger  Indians 
understand  English  and  get  to  be  able  to  read  in  it, 
they  prefer  it  to  their  own  language  and  books. 

The  examinations  in  arithmetic,  grammar,  and 
geography  were  rather  limited.  It  could  not  have 
been  otherwise  in  such  a  place.  All  were,  however, 
delighted  with  the  splendid  examination  each  class 
passed  through  in  Bible  history.  The  Indians  have 
wonderful  memories,  and  here  the  children  delighted 
all  with  their  knowledge  of  events  from  the  crea- 
tion down,  and  the  accuracy  with  which  they  could 

quote  long  portions  of  the  sacred  book.    The  writing 

128 


IN  THE  Great  Loi  .  Land 

also  won  a  great  many  complimentary  remarks  from 
ail,  and  it  is  safe  to  assert  that  very  few  schools 
among  white  people  could  have  made  a  better  show- 
ing. The  recitations  were  good,  considering  that 
they  were  uttered  in  a  foreign  tongue.  The  singing 
was  delightful.  The  children  sang  in  the  two  lan- 
guages, and  the  soft,  sweet,  liquid  Cree  did  not  suf- 
fer in  pathos  and  beauty  in  comparison  with  the 
more  vigorous  English.  Of  course,  a  number  of 
prizes  were  given.  A  beautiful  incident  occurred 
when  the  prizes  for  the  best  recitations  of  the  four- 
teenth chapter  of  St.  John's  gospel  were  being  d\s- 
tributed.  Among  the  coi>ipetitors  was  a  poor  lad 
who  when  a  babe  had  been  so  bitten  in  the  hand  and 
arm  by  a  wolf  that  the  arm  had  to  be  cut  off  near 
the  body.  Competing  with  him  were  several  other 
bright  boys.  The  chief  prize  was  a  splendid  pair 
of  new  skates,  which  Frank  had  generously  given 
for  this  competition.  So  even  had  been  the  boys,  or 
rather  so  perfect  were  they  in  reciting,  that  the 
judges  hesitated  about  selecting  the  winner  of  the 
first  prize.  When  the  boys  who  were  well  and 
unmaimed  observed  this  there  was  a  short,  quiet  con- 
sultation between  them,  and  then  one  rose  up  and, 
respectfully  addressing  Mr.  McTavish,  said  that  the 
boys  who  had  two  hands,  as  well  as  two  feet,  had 
more  ways  of  having  sport  and  fun  than  Kepastick, 
who  had  only  one  hand,  and  so  they  asked  him  to 
have  the  judges  decide  that  Kepastick  should  have 
the  skates.  Noble  fellows!  but  that  is  just  like 
young  Christian  Indian  boys.     The  white  people 

present  were  much  moved  by  this  beautiful  incident 
9  129 


i 


'\J 


f 


'I 


If 


aUH 


ii, 


.;:•'  -^ 


!, 


m 


M 


I 


11 


i  : 


I' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Bovs 

of  quiet  unselfishness,  and  soon  arranged  that  those 
kind-hearted  lads  should  not  go  unrewarded. 

By  twelve  o'clock  the  most  successful  examination 
of  the  school,  up  to  that  time,  was  over.  The  prizes 
were  distributed,  and  while  all  the  white  people,  as 
was  customary,  accepted  the  missionary's  invitation 
and  dined  at  the  parsonage,  the  Indians  sped  away 
home  for  a  brief  dinner,  and  were  then  soon  all  back 
again,  to  compete  in  or  to  witness  the  sports. 

The  first  races  w^ere  run  by  some  little  girls.  The 
distance  was  only  a  few  hundred  yards  and  back. 
These  races  caused  a  lot  of  fun  and  enjoyment.  The 
prizes  were  little  handkerchiefs,  strings  of  beads,  and 
other  trifling  things  in  which  little  Indian  girls  re- 
joice, and  of  cou"se  every  little  competitor  must  have 
a  prize.  Then  there  were  races  for  little  boys.  It 
was  great  fun  to  see  the  sturdy  little  fellows  so  gal- 
lantly strive  for  victory.  Meanwhile  arrangements 
were  being  made  for  the  more  important  races  of 
the  day.  The  courses  had  been  marked  out  pre- 
viously with  flags,  and  so  every  class  knew  its 
course  and  ran  accordingly.  The  fleetness  and  en- 
durance of  some  of  even  the  small  boys  were  won- 
derful, and  great  was  the  interest,  and  even  intense 
at  times  the  excitement,  when  several  well-matched 
competitors  gamely  struggled  on  for  victory.  In 
the  races  open  to  all  comers  the  larger  Indian  boys 
were  disappointed  that  none  of  the  whites  had  en- 
tered, as  they  were  anxious  to  test  their  own  speed 
against  them.  There  were  races  worth  going  across 
a  continent  to  witness,  and  genuine  and  hearty  was 

the  applause  that  greeted  the  winners,  who  came  in 

130 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


at  such  a  rate  that  tlie  white  hoys,  wliilc  cheering 
as  heartily  as  the  others,  saw  how  wise  they  liad 
heen  in  decHning  to  put  themselves  against  such 
runners  as  White  Antelope  or  Spotted  Deer,  the 
winners. 

When  the  skating  matches  were  called  Frank 
promptly  entered  the  lists.  His  appearance  was  re- 
ceived with  applause.  Even  the  quiet  Indian  lads 
tried  to  make  a  noise  to  show  their  pleasure  in  greet- 
ing the  handsome,  manly  fellow  whose  splendid  gift 
had  gone  to  Kepastick,  the  one-armed  lad.  Two  or 
three  young  clerks  or  fur  traders  also  entered  for 
the  race,  one  of  them  being  the  young  man  who  had 
so  abruptly  left  Alec  the  night  of  his  fearful  race 
with  the  wolves.  The  route  marked  out  for  the 
skaters  covered  in  all  about  ten  or  twelve  miles.  It, 
however,  so  twisted  in  and  out  among  the  islands 
on  the  frozen  lake,  that  many  of  the  competitors 
would  be  in  sight  nearly  all  of  the  time.  That  the 
intending  skaters  might  thoroughly  understand  the 
route,  it  had  been  marked  out  a  week  or  ten  days 
before  the  race,  and  it  had  been  thoroughly  under- 
stood that  any  of  the  competitors  were  at  perfect 
liberty  to  skate  over  the  grounds  and  get  familiar 
with  the  different  turning  places,  marked  by  little 
red  flags. 

Frank,  with  Alec  as  a  companion  and  irainer,  ac- 
companied by  one  of  Mr.  Ross's  servants,  who  was 
also  a  splendid  skater,  had  gone  over  the  route  two 
or  three  times,  and  so  was  quite  familiar  with  it.  A 
little  before  the  race  began  he  was  quite  surprised 

to  have  this  Indian  skater  call  him  aside  and  tell  him 

131 


t  J 


:■}  liji 


"niiiay 


mam 


1* 


ll»i 


I 


\t   ie 


i^ 


l^' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

to  be  careful  and  keep  his  eye  on  the  correcl  route, 
and  also  to  guard  himself  against  that  young  white 
man  who  had  deserted  Alec.    He  then  added : 

"Watch  the  Indian  with  one  arm;  his  heart  is 
good  toward  you." 

Then,  putting  his  fingers  to  his  lips  as  a  sign  of 
caution,  the  Indian  quickly  slipped  away  among 
the  crowd.  This  very  much  perplexed  and  bothered 
Frank,  especially  when  Mr.  Ross  said  to  him : 

"Keep  your  eyes  on  the  lookout  for  the  flags — the 
Indian  lads  are  so  familiar  with  the  route  that  they 
will  not  bother  to  notice  them;  and  look  out  for 
tricks  from  those  whose  faces,  like  your  own,  are 
white." 

There  were  perhaps  twenty  competitors  in  the 
great  race.  As  the  distance  was  so  long  it  was  ;^ot 
very  essential  that  they  should  get  off  at  the  same 
instant.  There  would  doubtless  be  those  who  de- 
pended on  rapid  bursts  of  speed  to  carry  them  to  the 
front,  and  so  a  second  or  two  made  but  little  differ- 
ence at  first.  At  the  report  of  a  gun  away  they  flew. 
They  had  all  sorts  of  skates  and  all  kinds  of  styles. 
With  ten  or  twelve  miles'  work  before  them,  none, 
except  some  of  the  younger  lads,  tried  to  do  their 
very  best  at  first.  Frank  naturally  wished  to  skate  in 
company  with  his  white  companions,  but  they  sul- 
lenly refused  the  offered  society.  Insulted  and  an- 
noyed at  this  conduct,  and  remembering  the  warning 
words  of  Mr.  Ross  and  also  of  his  faithful  servant, 
he  just  made  up  his  mind  to  be  on  the  alert,  and  if 
it  were  possible  he  would  be  in  the  first  of  the  pale- 
faces.   On  and  on  they  sped,  until  a  couple  of  miles 

132 


:: 


liN  TriE  Great  Lone  Land 


at  least  were  covered.  Then  they  had  reached  a  spot 
wliere  tlie  route  lay  between  two  rocky  islands  not 
a  hundred  feet  apart.  The  ice  here  was  beautifully 
smooth,  and  being  well  sheltered  was  as  clear  as 
glass.  Witli  a  wild  whoop  the  Indians  dashed  on 
across  it,  and  at  the  same  time,  rather  to  Frank's 
surprise,  one  of  the  clerks,  putting  on  a  rapid  burst 
of  speed,  dashed  directly  in  front  of  him,  in  the  cen- 
ter of  this  narrow  place.  Frank,  with  his  suspicions 
all  aroused,  keenly  watched  him,  and  to  his  astonish- 
ment saw  him  deliberately  but  cautiously  let  slowly 
trickle  from  his  hands  fine  streams  of  the  white 
crystal  quartz  sand  of  that  country.  To  have 
skated  over  it  would  have  so  dulled  his  keen-edged 
skates  that  anything  like  victory  would  have  been 
impossible.  There  are  times  when  the  mind  works 
rapidly,  and  so  it  did  here  with  Frank.  The  first 
thought  was  to  shout  out  and  expose  the  villainy. 
The  next  was  to  evade  the  trap  and  for  the  present 
say  nothing  about  it,  and  see  what  trick  would  next 
be  tried.  So,  quickly  veering  to  the  windward  side 
sufficiently  to  make  it  sure  that  he  would  escape  the 
sand,  he  rapidly  sped  along,  humiliated  and  indig- 
nant that  a  white  man  would  try  a  trick  that  an 
Indian  would  scorn  to  do. 

On  and  on  they  flew.  The  route  turned  and 
twisted,  and  in  several  of  the  windings  it  brought 
them  in  fair  view  of  the  excited  group  on  the  mis- 
sion hill  who  watched  their  progress,  for  now  more 
than  one  half  of  the  route  was  covered.  They  were 
now  entering  a  kind  of  a  maze  among  the  islands, 
where  persons  not  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 

133 


1 


11 


i 


11^ 


H 


Ml 


t  '1 


I 


-» t 


WiNTKR   AdVKNTUUI'S  OF  'rilUKIC    I)()YS 

route  rc(iuirc(l  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  on  the  different 
flags.  In  the  front  group  was  Frank,  and  closely 
edging  beside  him,  he  noticed  with  pleasure,  was 
Kepastick,  the  one-armed  lad,  with  his  beautiful  new 
skates,  now  serving  liim  grandly  and  well. 

"Chist!"  said  the  Indian  lad  (juickly,  and  Frank 
knew  by  the  way  that  this  word,  which  means 
"look,"  was  uttered  that  there  was  something  meant. 
Letting  the  boy  glide  just  ahead  of  him,  Frank 
caught  the  meaning  of  his  words,  though  uttered  in 
broken  English : 

"Some  bad  hearts  change  flags  to  bother  Frank. 
Frank  keep  near  Kepastick.     lie  knows  the  trail." 

These  friendly  words  were  uttered  none  too  soon, 
for  Fnink  saw  at  once  that  even  some  of  the  Indians, 
trusting  to  the  flags,  were  perplexed  and  some  had 
gone  hopelessly  astray.  With  a  rush  and  a  jeer  of 
triumph  a  white  clerk  made  an  attempt  to  fly  by,  for 
once  out  of  that  labyrinth  of  crooked  icy  channels 
the  home  stretch  was  as  straight  as  an  arrow.  Frank 
was  for  responding  to  his  spurt  with  an  effort 
equally  desperate,  when  Kepastick  checked  him 
with : 

*'One  Indian,  good  heart,  meet  clerk's  bad  heart; 
all  right  yet." 

Frank,  now  completely  bewildered,  yielded  him- 
self implicitly  to  the  guidance  of  Kepastick,  who 
moved  on  with  all  confidence  and  paid  not  the  slight- 
est attention  to  the  flags. 

Look!    Away  beyond  the  islands,  in  the  distance, 

shining  in  the  sunlight,  is  the  steeple  of  the  mission 

church.    Just  a  few  more  w^indings  in  these  tortuous 

134 


iV 


is<i 


IN  Tin:  (iuicAT  Lone  Land 


heart ; 

him- 
who 
;light- 

tance, 
ission 
tiious 


channels,  and  then  the  two  miles'  dash  for  hnmc. 
Most  of  tiic  Indians — for  their  skates  were  poor — 
have  fallen  in  the  rear.  The  one  white  man  whom 
Frank  despises  is  perliaps  a  linn(h'ed  yards  ahead, 
and  not  far  hehind  him  are  his  eom[)anions.  With 
intense  interest  I\e[)astick  is  watcliing  them. 

**Chist!"  he  eries  a^ain,  and  his  dark  eyes  Hashed 
with  excitement ;  "the  trail  is  ours !" 

It  seems  that  there  ran  out  from  that  place  two 
channels  that  looked  very  much  alike.  The  correct 
one  had  heen  flagged  several  days  hefore,  hut  the 
previous  evening  the  clerk  had  skated  over  and  had 
flagged  the  wrong  channel.  Sharp  eyes  had  heen 
on  him  and  had  discovered  his  trick,  and  these  mis- 
placed Hags  had  been  replaced  at  their  proper  posi- 
tions, wliile  the  others  had  heen  left  as  the  villain 
had  placed  them.  Thus  thrown  off  his  guard,  he 
blindly  dashed  into  the  wrong  channel.  The  rocky 
shores  were  high  and  abrupt,  and  so  Kepastick  and 
Frank  shot  by  the  trap  and  into  the  correct  channel, 
and  were  hundreds  of  jTiids  out  on  the  now  open 
Jake,  with  their  faces  toward  home,  ere  the  plotters 
discovered,  to  their  dismay,  how  they  had  been  com- 
pletely foiled.  As  rapidly  as  possible  they  turned, 
but  the  distance  could  not  be  made  up,  and  so  to 
their  chagrin  they  not  only  found  that  Frank  and 
Kepascick  had  tied  first,  but  that  six  or  seven  In- 
dians, some  with  home-made  skates,  had  wholly 
beaten  them. 

As  the  miserable  trickster  passed  Frank  on  the 

shore  some  time  after,  in  the  presence  of  the  chief 

factor,  Mr.  Ross,  and  several  others,  Frank  sternly 

135 


^|i 


li 


,il. 


. 

1, 

s 

! 

1 ' 

rl 

1 

if 

\ 

■i 

■  1 

1 

1           [ 

f 

i 

i 

1 

! 

(  ' 

1 

i' 

; 

■"■  w 

!  ( 

•J 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

looked  at  him  and  uttered  the  one  word  "Sand!" 
None  but  the  two  then  knew  what  was  meant,  but 
the  guilty  rascal  paled,  and  so  trembled  that  it 
seemed  as  though  he  would  fall  to  the  ground.  Very 
soon  was  he  out  of  that  company.  Next  day  he 
asked  to  be  transferred  to  another  post,  which  re- 
quest was  cheerfully  granted.  It  was  a  long  time 
before  Frank  told  of  his  contemptible  conduct. 
When  Mr.  Ross  at  length  heard  of  it  he  communi- 
cated at  once  with  the  head  officers  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  in  reference  to  conduct  so  dishonor- 
able, and  the  result  was  that  the  poor  fellow,  who 
had  not  improved  over  such  actions  in  other  places, 
was  ignominously  expelled  from  the  service. 

Meanwhile  the  other  sports  were  progressing 
finelv.  The  football  teams  crowned  themselves  with 
many  honors.  The  games  were  not  fought  on  any 
strict  Rugby  rules.  The  goals  were  set  in  the  ice, 
c*DOUt  four  or  five  times  as  distant  from  each  other 
as  is  t.'ie  case  in  civilization.  Then  two  captains  were 
named,  and  they  selected  their  men  and  boys  alter- 
nately, until  all  who  wished  to  play  were  chosen. 
Then  each  side  was  lined  up  at  their  own  goal.  The 
ball  was  placed  away  out  in  the  center  between  them. 
At  the  firing  of  a  gun  there  was  a  wild  rush,  and  the 
side  that  had  the  fleetest  runners  thus  secured  the 
first  kick.  The  ball  was  not  to  be  thrown  or  carried. 
It  was  to  be  kicked,  and  could  be  struck  with  the 
hand  or  head.  The  game  was  fast  and  furious  while 
it  lasted.  It  was  ahvays  in  ground,  and  there  was  no 
hold  up  until  it  went  between  the  poles  of  one  or  the 

other  side.    The  cries  of  "Foul"  were  never  heard, 

136 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

and  umpires  were  only  needed  at  the  poles  to  shout 
out  when  a  goal  was  won.  It  was  a  jolly,  lively, 
easily  understood  game  of  football,  enjoyed  by  all. 
Generally  five  wins  in  nine  plays  was  the  rule. 

The  hockey  games  were  like  those  played  by  men 
and  boys  in  civilized  lands,  only  here  everybody  who 
wished  to  play  was  paired  with  somebody  else,  so 
as  to  keep  the  sides  even.  Everybody  not  otherwise 
engaged  enthusiastically  took  a  hand  in  it,  and  the 
fun  was  very  great.  Mr.  Hurlburt,  Mr.  Ross,  Hud- 
son Bay  officers,  as  well  as  all  down  to  the  smallest 
Indian  lad  who  could  handle  a  crooked  stick,  had 
a  share  in  this  game.  The  day  was  so  cold,  and 
the  smooth  ice  expanse  so  great,  that  the  vigorous 
exercise  did  everybody  good. 

The  tobogganing  games  were  given  over  entirely 
to  the  girls  to  compete  in,  and  skillfully  and  well 
did  they  acquit  themselves.  The  other  minor  games 
also  gave  great  satisfaction,  and  aflforded  any 
amount  of  amusement. 

We  reserve  for  the  next  chapter  the  story  of  the 

great  race  of  the  rival  dog-trains,  which  for  long 

years  after  was  talked  about  in  many  a  wigwam  and 

at  many  a  camp  fire. 

137 


I'i 


Winter  Auventukes  of  Three  Boys 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Great  Race  with  the  Dog-trains — Careful  Preparations 
by  Alec — The  Different  Breathing  Places — The  Treacherous 
Half-breeds — Their  Signal  Failure — Alec's  Triumph. 

And  now  for  the  races  with  the  dogs.  These 
were  looked  forward  to  with  the  greatest  interest. 
All  sorts  of  rumors  were  afloat  of  some  wonderful 
surprises  in  store.  Fortunately  for  all  parties  con- 
cerned, including  the  dogs,  there  had  been  a  great 
abundance  of  fish  during  the  last  few  years,  and  so 
every  Indian  wigwam  and  house  fairly  swarmed 
with  dogs,  of  all  sizes  and  degree.  In  other  years, 
when  fish  failed  and  the  herd  of  reindeer  came  not, 
as  a  last  resort  against  starvation  the  dogs  went  into 
the  soup  pot.  But  they  had  fared  better  lately,  and 
so  now  they  were  all  in  the  finest  trim,  and  the 
trained  ones  were  as  eager  here  for  the  races  as  were 
their  masters. 

There  were  about  a  dozen  trains  that  contended 

for  the  victory  in  this  next  race.    There  were  to  be 

four  prizes  given.    Alec,  with  his  splendid  houndlike 

dogs,  seemed  a  certain  victor.     However,  as  from 

different  parts  the  dogs  came  into  position  and  were 

eagerly  scanned  by  those  present,  it  was  seen  that 

there  were  many  trains  that  would  make  a  gallant 

race    ere    they    or    their    magnificently    developed 

drivers  would  even  take  a  second  place.    Alec  and 

a  young  clerk  were  the  only  whites  in  the  race. 

Then  there  were  three  half-breed  fur  traders,  and 

the  rest  of  the  competitors  were  pure  Indians. 

138. 


irations 
cherous 

These 
iterest. 
icier  fill 
2S  con- 
i  great 
and  so 
/armed 
■  years, 
ne  not, 
nit  into 
ly,  and 
,nd  the 
IS  were 

[tended 

le  to  be 

[uidlike 

from 

Id  were 

!n  that 

;allant 

eloped 

:c  and 

race. 

:s,  and 


u 

O 

Q 

J3 


O 

> 


m\ 


■1 

1 

■  ; 

I* 


''     1 1 

■  1  ' 

t^M 

,    .                       '; 

;  : 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


The  Indian  carpenter  at  Sagasta-weekec  had 
made  for  Alec  a  splendid  birch  tobogganhke  sled 
for  this  race.  It  was  very  light,  and  so  the  maker 
had  sewed  and  resewed  it,  and  so  stiffened  it  with 
the  sinews  of  the  reindeer  that  it  was  as  strong  as  a 
piece  of  steel.  He  had  fastened  a  seat  in  it  so 
cleverly  that  if  the  sled  went  over  the  seat  collapsed 
like  a  rubber  ball  and  as  quickly  resumed  its  position 
when  the  sled  was  righted.  Old  Memotas  had 
especially  manufactured  the  harnesses  for  this  event. 
He  made  them  out  of  the  softest  and  lightest  moose- 
skin  that  Mr.  Ross  could  buy  for  him.  It  took 
Memotas  a  long  time  to  get  the  right  kind  of  traces 
to  satisfy  his  experienced  eye.  After  testing  a  good 
deal  of  leather  he  settled  down  on  a  set  of  very  long- 
ones,  that  would  not  at  all  interfere  with  the  long, 
springy  movements  of  these  beautiful  houndlike 
dogs. 

The  start  was  to  be  from  the  foot  of  the  mission 
hill  on  the  ice.  The  route  marked  out,  and  along 
which  Indians  had  now  been  stationed,  was  first  to 
be  the  trading  post,  a  distance  of  two  and  a  half 
miles.  Here  each  train  would  be  detained  exactly 
five  minutes.  At  the  expiration  of  the  five  minutes 
the  next  part  of  the  race  would  begin.  This  was  to 
Sagasta-weekee,  a  distance  of  perhaps  five  miles. 
Here  there  was  to  be  a  compulsory  wait  of  ten  min- 
utes for  each  train,  and  then  the  dash  back  by  the 
straight  route  to  the  mission,  a  distance,  say,  of  six 
miles.  Some  of  the  Indians  wanted  the  distance  to 
be  at  least  doubled,  but  this  could  not  be  allowed. 

These  races  and  prizes  were  only  designed  to  en- 

139 


mammim 


hi 


i  i   I' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

courage  the  Indians  to  be  kind  and  careful  with  their 
dogs,  as  only  by  such  treatment  could  they  be 
brought  to  be  of  the  highest  use  to  them  in  that 
land  where  they  are  so  much  needed. 

Amid  a  good  deal  of  barking,  and  some  growls 
from  some  of  the  more  quarrelsome  dogs,  the  cry  of 
**Marche!"  was  shouted,  and  they  were  off.  Some 
especially  clever  Indian  trains  were  the  first  to  re- 
spond to  the  call  and  sprang  to  the  front.  Some 
of  the  drivers  were  going  to  run ;  others,  like  Alec, 
intended  to  ride,  while  perhaps  the  greater  number 
would  ride  or  run  as  they  judged  best  in  the  excite- 
ment of  the  race.  Each  driver.  Alec  included,  had 
a  splendid  dog-whip,  but  it  was  a  long  time  since  a 
dog  of  Alec's  was  struck.  Indeed,  the  first  one  to 
receive  a  powerful  blow  was  the  leader  dog  of  a 
train  beside  which  Alec  was  running.  As  Bruce 
came  alongside,  and  was  slowly  forging  ahead,  the 
vicious  brute  made  a  spring  at  him.  Quick  as  it 
was,  it  was  observed  by  his  Indian  master,  who, 
although  more  than  twelve  feet  from  him  in  the 
rear,  sent  out  so  speedily  and  accurately  that  long, 
heavy,  snakelike  whiplash  that  it  caught  the  brute 
on  the  nose  with  such  force  that,  with  a  howl  of  pain, 
he  turned  to  the  front  before  any  damage  had  been 
done.  A  few  seconds  later  Alec  and  this  Indian 
driver  sped  on  right  and  left  of  a  couple  of  trains 
mixed  up  in  terrible  confusion,  while  their  drivers, 
a  white  man  and  a  half-breed,  were  in  anything  but 
a  pleasant  mood.  On  and  on  they  fairly  flew.  Alec 
had  been  warned  to  guard  against  running  into  some 

of  the  vicious  dog-trains,  as  some  of  them  had  teeth 

[40 


I'i 


'♦ 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

like  wolves,  and  one  fierce  attack  might  easily  dis- 
able one  of  his  lighter  dogs. 

Without  mishap  Alec  reached  the  fort,  and  found 
that  five  trains  were  there  ahead  of  him.  In  a  min- 
ute or  two  most  of  the  others  arrived.  Even  those 
tangled  up  had  speedily  unloosened,  and  had  not  lost 
more  than  a  couple  of  minutes  by  their  collision. 
Exactly  as  each  train's  five  minutes  expired,  away 
they  flew  for  a  long  run  for  Sagasta-weekee.  The 
ice  was  in  fairly  good  condition  for  traveling,  al- 
though there  were  long  stretches  where  it  was  so 
absolutely  smooth  and  glassy  that  some  of  the  dogs 
would  slip  and  slide  in  spite  of  their  best  efforts  to 
the  contrary.  On  this  smooth  ice  the  Eskimos  and 
the  mongrels  had  the  advantage,  as  they  had  such 
hard  feet  that  they  very  seldom  slipped.  The  feet 
of  Alec's  dogs  vv^ere  perhaps  the  worse  for  these 
smooth  icy  places,  and  so  he  found  that  it  was  neces- 
sary, where  the  traveling  was  good,  for  him  to  urge 
his  dogs  more  than  he  had  intended,  to  make  up  for 
what  he  lost  in  the  glassy  places.  Thus  on  they 
sped,  and  when  Sagasta-weekee  was  reached  Alec 
found  three  trains  ahead  of  him  and  a  couple  along- 
side of  his  own  and  others  close  behind  him.  Ten 
minutes  was  the  time  allotted  for  the  rest  here.  The 
instant  Alec  had  arrived  Memotas  was  at  his  side, 
and  with  him  at  once  examined  his  dogs  and  com- 
pared his  train  with  those  that  had  thus  far  kept 
ahead.  Memotas  was  delighted  with  the  inspection, 
for,  while  the  other  trains  seemed  about  exhausted 
at  the  terrific  rate  their  drivers  had  pushed  them. 

Alec's  were  as  playful  and  lively  as  though  the  race 

141 


S^' 


ll 


!■ 


i  'fi. 


I 


WiNTKR  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

had  only  bejT^un.  So,  barring  accident  or  foul  play, 
llicre  sccnicMl  to  he  no  reason  why  Alec  should  not 
win  with  Hying  colors.  Two  of  the  half-breeds  with 
very  vicious  trains  now  pushed  on  with  four  minutes 
of  a  start.  An  Indian  followed  two  minutes  after, 
and  then  in  four  minutes  more  Alec  and  those  who 
liad  arrived  at  the  same  time  as  he  did  were  again 
ready  for  the  final  run  of  the  six-mile  home  stretch. 
Just  as  Alec  was  leaving  faithful,  alert  Memotas 
said  to  him,  as  he  tucked  him  in: 

"Be  on  your  guard  against  those  two  half-breeds 
and  their  vicious  dogs.  Try  and  not  pass  them  in  a 
narrow  place.  There  is  mischief  in  their  hearts. 
Be  wase." 

*'Marche!"  and  he  was  off. 

For  the  first  time  now  his  blood  began  to  tingle, 
and  he  entered  into  the  wild,  joyous  enthusiasm  of 
the  race.  He  had  become  an  expert  in  the  use  of  his 
whip  over  the  backs  of  his  splendid  dogs.  Skillfully 
he  wdiirled  it,  and  ics  pistollike  report  rang  out  over 
them,  but  not  once  did  it  inflict  a  stinging  blow. 

"Ho!  ho!  my  gallants!  With  Scotland's  best 
staghound's  blood  in  your  veins,  and  Scotland's 
names,  my  bonny  dogs,  for  Scotland  win  the  day !" 

He  must  needs  hurry  now,  for  fleet  trains  are 
around  him  and  some  ahead  of  him,  with  drivers 
just  as  keen  and  eager  to  win  as  he,  and  every  one 
of  them  accustomed  to  dog-driving  for  years.  Vic- 
tors are  some  of  them  in  previous  contests,  and  not 
one  of  them  is  disposed  to  see  a  white  lad  from 
across  the  sea  come  and  wrest  their  honor  from 

iheni.     Whips  are  flying  now  in  earnest,  and  the 

142 


^s 


IN  THE  Gri:at  Lonic  Lakd 


>iil  play, 
)ul(l  not 
liU  with 
minutes 
2S  after, 
3se  who 
-e  again 
stretch, 
lemotas 

f-breeds 

lem  in  a 

hearts. 


3  tingle, 


iasm  of 


e  of  his 
killfully 
)iit  over 

3W. 

s   best 

Dtland's 

e  day !" 

ins  are 

drivers 

ry  one 
Vic- 
md  not 
1  from 
from 

nd  the 


dogs  of  other  trains  are  waking  up  to  realize  that 
there  is  fire  in  their  masters'  eyes  and  strength  in 
tlieir  arms  and  a  burning  sting  at  the  end  of  the 
heavy  lash.  With  terrific  rushes  they  make  their 
desperate  efforts  to  forge  to  the  front.  Alec,  excited 
now  to  the  highest  pitch,  calls  as  never  before  to  his 


dogs 


"Marche!  Bruce,  up!  Up,  Wallace!  and  you 
Gelert,  and  my  bonny  Lome.  Ho!  ho!  Away, 
away,  my  bonny  dogs!    Away!  away!" 

Grandly  did  they  respond.  They  too  have  caught 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  hour,  and  '  .  in  clocklike 
unison  in  those  long,  light  traces  they  stretched 
themselves  out  and  fairly  flew  over  the  icy  surface, 
they  seemed  to  lift  the  light  sled  and  its  driver  as  a 
thing  of  naught. 

Steady,  Alec!  Keep  well  balanced  now.  You 
ha,  ^  shaken  off  every  sled  that  started  in  this  last 
dash  with  you,  but  there  are  stubborn  competitors 
ahead,  and  there  are  rough  places  where  an  upset  at 
such  a  speed  means  disaster  as  well  as  defeat.  But 
he  thinks  naught  of  these  things;  his  Scottish  cau- 
tion has  gone  to  the  winds,  and  wdth  dauntless  cour- 
age he  keeps  up  his  cheering  cries.  Rapidly  does  he 
gain  on  a  powerful  train  ahead  of  him,  and  just  as 
he  begins  to  fly  past  it  the  vicious  leader  turns  and 
springs  at  Bruce.  He  fails  in  his  attempt  on  account 
of  the  slippery  ice,  and  falls  directly  in  front  of  the 
oncoming  train. 

"Marche !  Bruce !"  shouts  Alec,  and  with  a  mighty 
bound  the  gallant  fellow  responds  and  springs  di- 
rectly over  his  prostrate  assailant.     Quickly  follow 

143 


.  I 


•iBT-aatBir--?  -' 


^'ii">  ii'«jiif  - 


Hi 


I  Hi     ' 

r 

•hi 


|i  iiji 


II 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Wallace,  Gelert,  and  Lome.  With  a  stunning  blow 
Alec's  sled  hits  the  still  struggling  brute.  Well  now 
is  it  for  Alec  that  the  cautious  builder  of  that  light 
sled  had  strengthened  it  with  deerskin  sinews  till  it 
was  tough  and  strong.  And  so  it  stood  that  fierce 
shock,  and,  with  its  sturdy  occupant  unseated,  over 
the  great  dog,  with  undiminished  speed,  it  goes. 
Before  him  now  are  the  two  great  trains  of  the  half- 
breeds.  These  are  the  men  and  trains  about  which 
Memotas  whispered  his  words  of  caution.  And 
well  is  it  for  Alec  that  he  was  put  on  his  guard. 
Before  them  for  a  mile  or  so  is  the  narrowest  part  of 
the  foute.  The  good  ice  in  places  did  not  average 
more  than  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  feet  across. 
Plenty  of  room  anyone  might  say  for  three  dog- 
trains  to  rush  by  in  at  the  same  time.  Yes,  if  all 
are  fair  and  honorable,  but  not  wide  enough  for  the 
safetv  of  the  third  if  the  other  two  are  determined 
to  stop  him  at  all  hazards. 

If  there  was  one  thing  more  than  another  in 
which  Alec  had  carefully  trained  his  dogs  it  was 
for  them  to  respond  to  his  voice,  and  quickly  move 
to  the  right  or  left,  as  he  spoke  to  them.  Like  some 
other  drivers,  he  had  them  so  well  trained  that  no 
horse  responds  to  the  pull  on  the  reins  more  prompt- 
ly than  did  his  dogs  to  his  voice.  As  Alec  rapidly 
gained  on  these  trains  he  observed  that  they  were 
running  about  parallel  to  each  other,  and  that  the 
width  of  the  ice  was  about  the  same  between  them 
and  each  shore.  This  so  equally  divided  the  ice  that 
it  made  it  difficult  to  decide  whether  to  try  and  pass 

between  them,  or  on  one  side  or  the  other.    Alec's 

144 


li 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

first  wish  was  to  see  if  they  were  really  working 
together  against  him,  and  so  he  shouted  to  his  dogs 
as  though  he  would  dash  in  between  them.  At  once 
they  began  to  close  up  from  each  side  to  block  his 
way.  Quickly  checking  his  dogs  before  there  was  a 
collision,  he  then  tried  the  call  to  the  right  hand, 
and  here  the  same  plan  was  again  pursued.  It  was 
evident,  seeing  that  they  would  both  be  beaten  in 
a  fair  race,  they  were  resolved,  by  sacrificing  one 
train,  that  the  other  should  win  at  any  cost  from 
this  white  lad.  Their  dogs  were  large  and  fierce, 
and  at  one  word  from  their  master,  if  a  collision 
occurred,  would  fasten  on  the  lighter  and  younger 
dogs  of  Alec,  with  disastrous  results.  So  Alec, 
who  saw  the  plan,  resolved  that  there  should  be 
no  collision  with  his  train  if  he  could  help  it.  All 
this  time  the  speed  was  fairly  kept  up,  and  alert  and 
watchful  was  each  driver,  although  not  a  word  was 
spoken  among  them.  After  a  little  more  maneuver- 
ing from  side  to  side  Alec  observed  that  his  dogs 
were  quicker  to  respond  to  his  voice  than  were 
theirs,  and  so  he  resolved  to  try  and  confuse  them 
and  throw  them  ofif  their  guard.  In  this  he  at  length 
succeeded.  When,  with  a  great  show,  it  appeared 
that  he  was  going  to  dash  between  them  he  suddenly 
checked  his  dogs  just  as  the  other  two  train?  closed 
in  to  block  his  way.  Quickly  they  saw  their  danger, 
and  tried  to  avert  it,  but  they  were  too  late.  Their 
own  fierce,  excited  dogs  sprang  at  each  other  as  they 
met,  and  ere  their  masters  could  separate  them  Alec 
had  skillfully  veered  to  the  right  and  was  by  them. 

The  coast  was  clear  now,  but  fleet  trains  were  close 
lo  145 


,  --*&■      .-» 


II 


(f 


^    ! 


ill; 


!^ 


.1 
N 


WlNTRR  AdVENTI'RES  OF  TlIRKK   BoVS 

behind.  Tlie  hlockini^  of  the  way  liad  necessarily 
somewhat  lessened  the  speed,  and  swift  trains  had 
come  up  dangerously  near.  But  what  now  cared 
Alec?  Springing  to  his  feet,  he  swings  his  whip  and 
calls  U)  his  gallant  dogs.  The  distance  is  now  only 
a  couple  of  miles,  and  direct  is  the  route.  How  those 
beautiful  dogs  do  go!  In  perfect  unison  they  spring 
together,  while  Alec's  cheering  voice  rings  out: 

"Marche!  Bruce,  my  hero,  my  leader!  and  you, 
Wallace,  true  to  the  end,  and  Gelert  the  avenger, 
and  Lome  the  fortunate!  Gallant  Scots  ye  are,  and 
this  is  our  Bannockburn!" 

Thus  on  he  drives;  and  now  before  him  in  the 
distance  is  the  expectant  crowd,  who,  having  fin- 
ished all  their  other  sports,  have  gathered  on  the 
sloping  banks  to  watch  the  return  of  the  dog-trains. 
The  day  is  drawing  to  a  close,  but  there  is  one  of 
those  marvelous  gloamings  of  the  Great  Lone  Land, 
and  so  the  whole  scene  is  as  visible  as  at  noonday. 
The  vSpeed  at  which  Alec  travels  soon  brings  him 
near,  and  as  the  sharp  eyes  of  many  tell  them  that 
he  is  the  victor,  and  far  in  advance  of  any  other 
train,  there  is,  for  an  Indian  crowd,  a  great  deal  of 
cheering,  or  rather  a  shouting  of  what  sounds  like 
'Tli !  Hi !  Ho !  Ho !"  from  many  a  dusky  Indian's 
lungs.  For  Alec  is  very  popular  among  them,  and 
they  rejoice  at  his  victory.  The  few  whites  are  also 
very  much  interested,  and  add  their  full  sharr  to  the 
noise  and  excitement  that  tell  of  Alec's  triumph. 
Of  course,  Frank  and  Sam  were  wild  with  delight — 
so  much  so  that  they  could  not  even  shout.    Sam  in 

describing  their  feelings  afterward  said: 

146 


I  i 


ly  THE  CiRKAT  Lone  Land 

"We  could  only  yell,  hut  that  we  did  in  rij^hl  good 
earnest." 

As  Alec  dashed  into  the  midst  of  the  checriui^ 
crowd  warm  indeed  was  his  welcome.  Stalwart 
arms  seized  him,  and  hoisted  him  up  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  a  couple  of  gigantic  Indians,  who  at  once 
began  their  march  to  the  front  of  the  mission  house, 
where  amid  the  cheering  of  the  crowd  a  hlue  rihhon 
was  pinned  up(jn  the  breast  of  his  coat  by  the  trem- 
bling fingers  of  an  equally  happy  maiden,  and  her 

name  was  Winnie. 

147 


V.    \\ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boyi 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Pasche  Disappears — The  Search — Big  Tom  and  Mustagan — 
The  Whisky  Jacks — Pasche  Found  in  a  Hollow  Tree — Chased 
by  an  Angry  Moose  Bull — Pasche  Rescued — His  Quaint  Ac- 
count of  His  Adventures. 

There  was  great  excitement  at  Sagasta-weekee 
one  morning  when  word  came  in  that  the  stableman 
who  looked  after  the  cows  was  missing.  In  fact, 
he  had  not  been  around  for  three  days,  and  the  boy 
who  helped  him  in  the  stables  was  scolded  for  not 
having  reported  his  absence.  The  name  of  the 
missing  man  was  Pasche.  He  was  a  French  half- 
breed  who  had  come  up  from  the  Indian  settlement 
near  Montreal,  several  years  before,  in  one  of  the 
canoes  of  the  famous  Iroquois  brigaacs  that  annu- 
ally made  the  trip  up  the  Ottawa  and  other  rivers 
into  Lake  Superior  to  Thunder  Bay,  and  from 
thence  by  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  still  other  rivers 
until  they  reached  Lake  Winnipeg. 

Poor  Pasche  was  ignominiously  discharged  by  the 

despotic  governor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  as 

being  unfit  for  the  laborious  work  of  a  canoeman  in 

one  of  those  large  canoes.    The  fact  was  that  it  was 

only  the  most  vigorous  and  muscular  men  who  could 

perform  the  tremendous  task  assigned  them  by  that 

tyrannical  man,  who  drove  his  men  on  and  on  with 

all  the  cruel,  callous  persistency  of  a  slavedriver. 

No  wonder  poor,  weak  Pasche  gave  out  where  many 

a  stalwart  man  has  also  failed.     He  had  been  a 

sailor  for  some  years  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  had 

148 


stagan — 
—Chased 
aint  Ac- 

weekee 

bleman 
[n  fact, 
the  boy 
for  not 
of  the 
;h  half- 
tlement 
of  the 
t  annu- 
rivers 
from 
rivers 

by  the 
any,  as 
man  in 
it  was 

could 
)y  that 
n  with 
driver. 

many 
■)een  a 

dhad 


5^:'  «<^</.«''A>J 


Fasche  Treed  by  a  Moose, 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


the  agility  of  a  monkey  in  climbing  up  to  the  top 
of  the  masts.  The  unfortunate  fellow  was  left 
stranded  in  that  wild  country,  and  so  out  of  sym- 
pathy for  the  poor  exile  Mr.  Ross  had  given  him 
work  and  a  home  until  he  could  return  to  his  own 
people.  The  kindness  of  his  new  master  made  him 
quite  contented  where  he  was,  and  so  year  after  year 
he  had  remained,  and  to  him  had  come  the  care  of 
the  cows  both  in  the  summer  and  winter. 

Now  he  was  missing,  and  had  been  for  three  days. 
The  family  was  alarmed,  as  it  was  such  an  unusual 
thing  for  Pasche  ever  to  be  away  over  a  night.  Mr. 
Ross  at  once  called  into  the  kitchen  all  who  had 
lately  seen  him  or  knew  anything  of  his  latest  fads. 
Of  these  the  poor  fellow  had  quite  a  number,  and 
while  some  of  them  were  sensible,  others  of  them 
were  generally  laughed  at  by  his  friends.  The  latest 
one  was  that  he  imagined  himself  a  great  hunter, 
and  had  secured  some  traps  and  had  set  them  in  the 
woods  in  various  places,  most  of  them  several  miles 
away.  The  last  time  he  was  seen  by  the  stableboy 
Avas  when  he  had  finished  the  morning  work  at  the 
stable.  Then  he  had  taken  his  gun  and  ax  and 
started  off  to  visit  some  of  his  traps.  When  Mr. 
Ross  chided  the  boy,  who  had  industriously  attended 
to  all  the  stable  duties  alone,  he  said  that  Pasche 
had  made  him  promise  to  say  nothing  about  his 
huntings,  for  fear  he  would  be  laughed  at. 

A  heavy  fall  of  snow  had  completely  obliterated 
all  tracks,  and  so  there  WdS  no  possibility  of  follow- 
ing him  up  in  that  way.    A  messenger  was  sent  for 

old  Mustagan  and  Big  Tom,  both  famous  Indian 

149 


m 


H 
m 


'■' 


ll«^ 


li 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

guides,  and  a  consultation  was  held  with  them. 
They  smoked  their  stone  pipes  and  talked  the  mat- 
ter over,  and  then  went  out.  After  closely  question- 
ing the  stableboy  they  returned  to  the  Indian  village. 
Here  they  secured  a  couple  of  sharp,  bright  little 
beaver  dogs.  With  them  they  returned  to  the 
stables,  and  there,  showing  the  dogs  a  coat  that 
Pasche  was  in  the  habit  of  wearing,  and  making 
them  thoroughly  smell  it,  they  tried  to  get  them  on 
his  trail.  All,  however,  the  dogs  would  do  was  to 
get  back  out  of  the  deep  snow  as  quickly  a?  possible 
and  into  the  shelter  of  the  stables.  The  plan  was 
not  a  success.  These  dogs  were  too  small  for  the 
deep  snow,  and  soon  the  old  Indians  gave  up  this 
plan  in  disgust.  Then  they  strapped  on  their  snow- 
shoes  and  made  a  long  circuit  around  the  place,  and 
thus  tried  to  find  out  some  clew  or  trace  of  the  miss- 
ing man.  Failing  in  this,  they  returned  to  the  house, 
and  after  a  hearty  meal  they  equipped  themselves  to 
find  that  lost  man.  They  had  but  little  to  work  on, 
as  Pasche  had  never  revealed  to  anyone  the  where- 
abouts of  his  traps.  However,  Indian  eyes  are 
sharp,  and  so,  unknown  to  him,  keen  hunters  had 
observed  his  doings,  and  could  tell  the  locality  of 
every  one  of  his  traps  and  snares.  Those  who  had 
any  knowledge  in  this  direction  were  summoned, 
and  then,  with  the  information  thus  obtained,  the 
two  old  rren  set  off  on  their  snowshoes.  It  was  not 
long  ere  they  reached  his  first  trap,  but  the  snow 
cohered  everything  there.  Then  on  to  his  next  re- 
sort, still  no  success ;  and  thus  it  was  throughout  the 

whole  round. 

tso 


IN  TFiE  Great  Lone  Land 

The  Indians  were  puzzled  and  perplexed,  and  as 
they  had  now  been  on  the  go  for  hours  they  kindled 
a  fire  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  some  of  the  sleds 
with  supplies  that  were  to  meet  them  here  at  this 
designated  spot.  The  boys,  who  were  equally 
grieved  and  excited  wnth  the  rest  at  the  loss  of 
Pasche,  with  whom  thcv  had  had  a  lot  of  innocent 
fun,  had  harnessed  up  their  dog-trains  and  joined 
the  party  who  brought  out  the  supplies.  The  meal 
was  quickly  prepared  on  the  big,  roaring  fire,  and 
vigorous  appetites  made  heavy  inroads  on  the 
abundant  supplies  which  Mrs.  Ross  had  sent.  They 
all  noticed,  while  at  the  meal,  the  unusual  number 
of  whisky  jacks,  the  Indian's  sacred  bird,  that  were 
at  once  attracted  by  the  fire.  They  wxre  all  very 
noisy,  and  seemed  unusually  excited.  The  Indians 
are  quick  to  notice  the  actions  of  even  the  most  insig- 
nificent  birds  when  on  their  hunting  or  warlike 
excursions.  Many  a  lurking  warrior  securely  hid 
from  the  keenest  human  eye  has  been  given  away  by 
a  noisy  blue  jay  or  a  suspicious  cawing  crow,  and 
has  thus  failed  in  his  attempt  to  surprise  his  enemy, 
and  has  been  obliged  to  make  a  hasty  retreat. 

In  answer  to  Frank's  question.  Big  Tom  told  the 
boys  how  some  of  the  wild  animals  are  warned  by 
the  birds  of  the  approach  of  the  hunters,  and  are 
thus  the  more  difficult  to  reach.  So  here  the  whisky 
jacks,  noisy  at  any  tim.e,  but  unusually  so  now,  at- 
tracted the  curiosity  of  those  alert,  watchful  old 
Indians,  as  well  as  much  amused  the  boys  with  their 
saucy  ways.    The  birds,  as  usual,  clamored  around 

the  fire,  and  as  long  as  a  crumb  or  bit  of  anything 

151 


I; 


tl 


I : 


1 


'» 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

could  be  obtained  were  very  saucy  and  persistent  in 
their  begging.  It  was  great  fun  for  the  boys  to 
feed  them,  and  to  even  catch  some  of  them  by  their 
feet,  so  bold  and  venturesome  were  they.  They  were 
all,  however,  speedily  liberated,  as  Mustagan  and 
Big  Tom  were  anxious,  if  possible,  to  learn  some- 
thing from  them.  So  the  remains  of  the  meal  were 
speedily  scattered,  and  while  the  boys  wrapped  robes 
around  themselves  and  sat  near  the  fire  to  keep 
warm,  the  Indians,  lighting  their  pipes,  sat  down  on 
a  log  near  the  fire  to  watch  the  actions  of  the  birds. 
For  a  time  they  fluttered  around  and  scolded  in  their 
pert,  boisterous  manner.  Then,  seeing  there  was 
nothing  more  forthcoming,  they  began  flying  about 
in  the  woods,  but  occasionally  came  back  to  see  if 
the  next  meal  was  being  prepared.  Seeing  no  signs 
of  it,  they  flew  further  and  further  away,  and  now 
principally  in  one  direction. 

After  a  while  the  quick  ears  of  Mustagan  detected 
a  series  of  unusual  cries  of  the  birds.  He  at  once 
called  Big  Tom's  attention  to  it,  and  they  both  de- 
cided that  there  was  something  unusual  to  cause 
them  thus  to  act.  Not  knowing  but  it  might  be  a 
wolverine  or  a  wild  cat  at  which  the  birds  seemed 
to  be  so  angrily  scolding,  while  the  boys  and  the  rest 
of  the  party  remained  near  the  fire  they  took  their 
guns  and  carefully  made  their  way  through  the 
woods  to  a  spot  where,  without  being  seen  them- 
selves, they  could  observe  the  birds.  To  their  keenest 
investigation  nothing  unusual  was  visible.  The  new, 
trackless  snow  was  as  yet  unmarked  by  step  of  man 
or  beast.    Still  excitedly  the  birds  acted,  and  inces- 

IS2 


A    I  I 


Pi! 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

santly  scolded.  Soon  the  two  men  noticed  that  the 
center  of  their  whirlings  was  a  large  dead  trunk  of  a 
tree  that  had  been  broken  off  between  thirty  and 
forty  feet  from  the  ground.  Around  this  stub  of  a 
tree  the  birds  whirled  and  scolded,  and  occasionally 
some  of  them  would  light  on  the  rough,  jagged  edge 
of  the  top  and  seemed  to  be  peeping  down  into  the 
heart  of  the  dead  tree.  The  curiosity  of  the  men 
was  aroused,  and  they  wondered  what  animal  the 
birds  had  there  discovered.  Immediately  they 
started  for  it,  keeping  their  guns  in  readiness  to  fire 
if  it,  whatever  it  was,  should  attempt  to  escape. 
When  they  reached  the  spot  there  was  not  a  track 
visible  of  any  animal.  The  birds  whirled  around 
if  possible  more  noisily  than  ever,  and  so  it  was  evi- 
dent to  the  men  that  there  was  something  in  that 
tree.  Drawing  his  ax  from  his  belt,  Big  Tom  made 
ready  to  pound  against  the  side  while  Mustagan, 
with  pointed  gun,  was  on  the  alert  to  shoot  any  ani- 
mal that  the  noise  should  disturb  and  cause  to 
attempt  to  escape.  With  lusty  vigor  Big  Tom 
pounded  away  at  the  old  tree,  while  carefully  Mus- 
tagan watched  the  top.  In  an  instant  after  there 
were  two  very  much  amazed  Indians.  For  from  the 
interior  of  that  old  tree  thus  vigorously  assailed 
there  came  the  faint  cry  of  a  human  being!  What 
his  first  words  were  neither  man  was  particular  to 
inquire.  It  was  enough  for  their  quick  wits  to  tell 
them  that  they  had  found  the  lost  man  for  whom 
they  were  seeking  and  that  he  was  still  alive ! 

At  once  they  lifted  up  their  voices  and  shouted 
words  of  cheer  and  encouragement  to  the   im- 

153 


i  ,. 


li 

\ 

i 

il 

l(i 

1 

u 

i 

1 

i 

i 

1   , 

i 

kl 

L-i 

Winter  .  vdventurks  oi-  Thuee  Boys 

prisoned  Pasclic.  Then  they  called  to  the  rest  of 
the  party  who  were  at  the  fire  to  hasten  to  them. 
Neither  the  boys  nor  the  men  required  a  second  call. 
They  were  speedily  at  the  side  of  the  two  old  In- 
dians who,  for  such  people,  were  very  perceptibly 
excited. 

At  first  the  boys  could  hardly  take  in  the  situation, 
but  quickly  it  dawned  on  them  that  here  was  an 
imprisoned,  half-starved  man  who  must  be  helped 
out  of  his  dangerous  predicament.  What  had  best 
i>  done  was  the  question  that  ^lustagan.  Big  Tom, 
and  the  other  Indians  were  discussing.  Some  sug- 
gested cutting  down  the  big  tree  at  once.  This  was 
discouraged  by  some,  wlio  said  that  the  blows  of  the 
ax  on  the  dead  tree  would  dislodge  so  much  dry, 
dusty,  rotten  wood  that  it  would  about  smother  the 
imprisoned  man.  So  it  was  quickly  decided  that 
he  must  be  pulled  out  of  the  top  where,  it  was  quite 
evident,  he  had  fallen  in.  At  once  the  tail  ropes  of 
the  sleds  and  the  packing  and  tie  lines,  which  are 
also  made  of  leather,  were  fastened  together,  and 
an  effort  was  made  to  get  one  end  to  the  poor  fellow 
inside.  In  the  meantime,  while  these  preparations 
were  being  made  by  the  Indians,  the  boys  en- 
deavored to  hold  some  kind  of  conversation  with 
the  imprisoned  Pasche. 

"Arrah,  my  man,"  shouted  Sam,  "and  what  are 
ye  doing  inside  there?" 

*T  fell  in,"  faintly  came  back  to  the  listeners. 

"Were  ye  looking  for  the  cows?"  persisted  the 
irrepressible  Sam,  who  was  a  great  favorite  with 
Pasche,  although  he  often  unmercifully  chaffed  him. 

m 


rest  of 
0  them. 
)nd  call, 
old  In- 
ceptibly 

tuation, 

was  an 

helped 

lad  best 

g  Tom, 

ne  sug- 

his  was 

s  of  the 

ch  dry, 

her  the 

ed  that 

IS  quite 

Dpes  of 

ch  are 

r,  and 

fellow 

rations 

ys   en- 

with 

at  are 


id  the 
wath 
him. 


IN  THE  Gkeat  Lone  Land 

"No,  but  a  moose  bull  was  looking  U)r  me." 
This  answer  was  the  explanation  that  told  the 
who'e  story;  but,  while  the  old  Indians  \ere  able  to 
now  understand  at  once  the  whole  maiin",  they  left 
it  for  Pasche,  when  rescued,  to  tell  his  story.  So  in 
the  meantime  the  (juestion  was  how  to  liberate  him 
as  speedily  as  possible  without  injury.  They  hrst 
tried  by  fastening  a  stone  to  one  end  of  their  impro- 
vised leather  rope  to  so  throw  it  up  that  it  would 
drop  into  the  hollo^v^  tree  as  into  a  chimney.  But 
although  they  succe  dc  '  several  times  in  getting  the 
stone  to  fall  in,  y  so  jagged  was  the  edge  of  the 
broken  wood  that  the  rope  would  not  slide  down. 
This  plan  failing,  th_  next  one  tried  was  to  cut  down 
as  large  a  you  '^  tree  as  the  whole  party  could 
handle,  and  then  carry  it  and  lean  it  up  against  the 
hollow  tree  in  which  was  the  imprisoned  man.  Alec, 
wdio  was  a  daring  climber,  at  once  volunteered  to 
climb  this,  and  thus  carry  up  one  end  of  the  rope, 
which  could  then  be  easily  lowered  down  to  Pasche. 
Ere  he  started  Mustagan  handed  him  a  ball  of  deer- 
skin twine,  and  told  him  to  put  that  into  his  pocket, 
as  he  might  need  it  before  he  came  down  again. 
Taking  off  his  overcoat,  and  tightly  fastening  his 
leather  coat  around  him  with  his  sash  belt,  Alec  gal- 
lantly began  his  difficult  task.  It  w^as  no  easy  work, 
as  the  tree  was  in  some  places  quite  icy  and  it  was 
hard  to  grip  with  his  hands,  wdiich  soon  began  to 
feel  the  effects  of  the  cold.  But  he  gallantly  per- 
severed, and,  cheered  and  encouraged  by  Sam  and 
Frank,  he  at  length  succeeded  in  reaching  the  top. 

Here  for  a  time,  after  a  cheery  shout  to  Pasche,  he 

155 


i 


y  \ 


* 


1                    ^ 

I 

iri 

il 


I 


1 1 

I 

y  It  i| 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

rested,  while  he  warmed  his  nearly  frozen  hands  in 
his  warm  mittens,  which  he  had  stuck  in  his  sash 
belt.  Then,  hauling  up  sufficient  length  of  line,  he 
carefully  dropped  it  down  to  the  poor  fellow  at  the 
bottom.  But  now  another  difficulty  presented  itself 
to  him.  He  alone  could  not  haul  out  the  imprisoned 
man,  and  the  men  below  could  be  of  little  service, 
as  the  rope  if  pulled  on  would  surely  get  caught  in 
the  ragged  edge  of  the  rotten  tree.  It  was  now  that 
Alec  saw  the  value  of  Mustagan's  forethought  in 
giving  him  that  ball  of  deerskin  twine. 

Calling  up  to  him  Mustagan  said: 

"Hold  on  to  the  end  of  that  twine,  and  let  the  ball 
drop  to  me." 

This  Alec  at  once  did.  Then  Mustagan  fastened 
a  good  solid  green  birch  stick  about  four  feet  long 
and  five  or  six  inches  in  diameter  to  the  string,  and 
then  said  to  Alec : 

"Now  draw  it  up  and  lay  it  across  the  top  of  the 
tree,  where  it  will  rest  firm  and  strong." 

This  was  quickly  done.  Then  calling  to  Pasche 
to  tie  the  end  let  down  to  him  about  his  waist,  and 
then  to  hold  on,  he  placed  the  rope  over  the  strong, 
smooth  green  stick  he  had  pulled  up,  and  then  gave 
the  word  to  the  men  below  to  haul  away.  No  second 
order  was  necessary,  and  soon  Pasche  was  pulled  up 
to  the  top.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  slipping  down 
the  inclined  tree,  weak  as  he  was.  Alec  also  safely 
reached  the  ground.  Poor  Pasche  was  quickly 
placed  on  a  dog-sled,  and  they  all  hurried  back  to 
the  fire,  where  some  tea  and  food  were  hastily  pre- 
pared for  the  hungry,  half-frozen  man.    He  was  so 

156 


ands  in 
lis  sash 
line,  he 
/  at  the 
;d  itself 
risoned 
service, 
ught  in 
Dw  that 
aght  in 


the  ball 

astened 
et  long 
ig,  and 

of  the 

*asche 
;t,  and 
;trong, 

gave 
second 
[led  up 
down 
jsafely 
Ltickly 
Lck  to 

pre- 
ras  so 


IN  THE  Gkkat  Lone  Land 

weak  and  exhausted  that  it  was  thouglit  best  not  to 
trouble  him  to  tell  his  story  until  they  had  all  re- 
turned to  Sagasta-weekee. 

The  journey  home  was  soon  made,  and  there  was 
great  rejoicing  at  the  recovery  of  the  poor  fellow. 
The  following  is  his  quaint  story  of  his  adventures: 

"Well,  you  see,  I  was  emulous.  Les  garqons — 
the  boys — they  succeed.  They  capture  le  renard 
— the  fox — the  wild  cat,  and  other  animals.  xVnd 
still  they  not  natives.  So  I  think  it  over  when  I  milk 
la  vache,  and  Sam  he  pushed  open  la  porte  and  he 
show  me  fine  cross- fox  he  caught,  and  that  make 
me  emulous.  So  I  take  my  wage  le  maitre  he  give, 
and  I  exchange  for  the  traps.  When  my  work  is 
done,  en  avant,  on  I  go  to  the  great  woods.  Aller 
a  pied — I  walk — I  carry  my  traps,  I  set  them  with 
much  bait.  I  get  nothing.  Le  chien — the  dog — he 
follows,  he  gets  in  the  traps.  Then  I  try  again.  I 
go  far  away  this  time.  I  set  my  traps,  I  await  with 
tranquillite.  It  is  far  in  the  woods.  I  wait  trois 
days.  Then  I  go  to  see  if  le  renard,  like  Sam's,  is 
in  my  trap.  Aussitot  que  possible — as  soon  as  pos- 
sible— I  reach  my  traps.  There  is  no  renard.  So  I 
return  home.  II  fait  nuit — it  is  night.  Then  I  say, 
A  quoi  bon? — What  good  is  it? — and  I  stay  with 
my  cows.  But  Sam  he  comes  again  and  he  say  great 
things  about  la  chasse — the  hunting — and  so  I  say, 
I  try  again ;  and  this  time  I  take  the  great  wolf  trap 
that  hang  in  the  stable,  and  I  start  early,  and  I  go 
far  in  the  woods,  and  I  set  my  traps,  and  I  put  the 
big  one,  the  wolf  trap,  set  with  a  log  made  fast  to 

the  chain,  and  then  I  retourner — return — to  my 

157 


'i  I 


li 


n 


lii 


Winter  Adventures  of  Tiirf.k  Boys 

duties.  Three  days  i)ass,  then  1  advance  again  in 
the  woods.  It  is  far.  11  fait  de  la  neige — it  is  snow- 
ing— when  I  draw  near.  I  hear  a  great  noise.  I 
draw  nearer  still.  I  see  the  great  moose  bull,  with 
his  hind  foot  in  the  wolf  trap.  He  also  sees  me.  1 
raise  a  great  shout.  A  quoi  bon  ? — What  good  is  it  ? 
He  comes  for  me.  Voulez-vous? — I  say.  So  I  fire 
my  fusil — gun — at  him.  Still  he  comes,  for  now  I 
remember  I  only  had  shot  for  partridge  in  that  gun. 
J'ai  chaud — I  am  hot.  He  makes  me  so,  he  looks  so 
fierce.  His  great  ears,  his  long  face,  all  his  hair 
point  toward  me.  I  turn,  I  run.  So  does  he  run, 
but  it  is  toward  me.  Still  he  comes.  He  has  still  the 
wolf  trap  on  his  foot.  The  log  is  fastened  to  the 
chain,  so  it  troubles  him.  Still  on  he  monies.  I  can 
keep  ahead,  on  account  of  the  log,  Init  the  log  slips 
off  the  chain.  So  now  he  comes  faster.  I  run,  I 
fly.  I  sec  him  draw  near.  He  looks  diabolical.  T 
despair.  I  see  this  tree  like  the  mast  broken  off  in 
the  storm.  I  learn  to  climb  w^ell  when  I  sail  on  the 
ship.  I  rush  to  the  tree  with  the  moose  bull  close 
behind  me.  I  drop  my  mittens,  I  seize  hold  of  the 
rough  bark,  1  climb  up  just  as  that  animal,  like  le 
diable — the  devil — he  rush  up,  and  he  strike  his 
great  horns  against  the  tree  where  I  was,  but  I  not 
there,  I  just  above,  out  of  his  reach.  I  dare  not  go 
back.  So  up  and  up  I  climb  like  the  sailor  as  I  was, 
and  when  I  get  to  the  top  I  find  plenty  of  sticks 
there,  where  some  time  ago  the  crows  they  make 
the  nest,  and  it  seem  strong,  and  as  I  could  not  hold 
on  at  the  sides  of  the  tree  I  pull  myself  up  and  I  try 

to  stand  on  tliose  sticks,  and  they  break  sudden  and 

158 


^> 


f 


igain  in 
s  snow- 
oisc.  1 
ill,  with 
I  me.  I 
xl  is  it? 
»o  I  fire 
•  iiuw  I 
lat  gun. 
ooks  so 
lis  hair 
he  run, 
still  the 

to  the 

I  can 

)g  slips 

run,  I 
ical.  I 
[  off  in 

on  the 
close 

of  the 

ike  le 

ve  his 
I  not 

lot  go 
was, 

sticks 
make 

t  hold 
I  try 

n  and 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

I  drop,  1  fall,  I  sink  down  into  the  tree.    1  throw  out 

my  arms  to  catch  hold,  hut  the  tree  is  rotten  wood 

inside,  so  1  lose  my  grip.    The  wood  it  come  down 

with  me.     I  sink  into  the  depths,  and  there  I  was. 

The  rotten  wood  made  a  great  dust  as  down  1  slide. 

It  nearly  choke  me.     I  cannot  call  out;  my  mouth, 

my  eyes,  my  throat  all  full.    There  I  stay.    I  could 

not  climh  out,  the  place  too  small.    I  could  not  work 

up  my  knees,  so  there  I  stay.     My  heart  gets  very 

sad   soon.     II   fait   nuit — it   is   night.     I   am   lost. 

Good-bye,  I  say,  to  all.    I  weep  and  then  I  sleep,  I 

wake  up  with  a  start,  then  I  sleep  again.     When  I 

wake  again,  il  fait  clair — it  is  light — above  and  I 

rejoice.    The  dust  is  all  out  of  my  eyes  and  mouth. 

I  can  move  back  my  head  enough  to  look  up  and  see 

the  blue  sky.     Then  I  call  aloud,  but  there  is  no 

response.    I  then  remember  I  have  some  food  in  my 

pocket.     It  is  difficile  to  get  at  it,  but  I  succeed.     I 

eat  it,  it  is  very  good.    Then  I  find  I  have  my  knife 

in  my  pocket.     I  call  again  and  again.     I  think  I 

hear  a  reply;  but  it  is  only  the  birds,  the  whisky 

jacks.     They  fly  across  my  vision  at  the  top;  they 

look  at  me,  they  scream,  they  mock  me.     Never 

mind,  I  have  my  knife ;  so  I  will  hope  to  cut  my  way 

out.    It  is  easy  cutting  in  the  rotten  wood.    But  the 

dust  affects  me.     I  cough  much.     I  can  v/ork  but 

little.    I  have  to  wait  for  the  dust  to  settle.    The  air 

is  bad.    When  I  get  to  the  hard  outside  wood  I  can 

do  nothing,  my  strength  is  gone.    It  is  hard  to 

breathe  when  I  keep  still.     It  is  worse  when  I  try 

to  work.     So  I  give  myself  up  to  ^Me.    I  call  out  at 

times,  and  I  try  to  think  of  my  fr    ids,  and  I  try  to 

159 


iJU 


i: 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

pray,  and  that  comforts  me  best  of  all.    Thus  passes 

this  second  day,  and  now  I  am  very  faint.     I  can 

just  easily  move  round  in  my  prison,  but  I  cannot 

sit  down  or  lie  down.    I  am  very  tired.    Still  I  call, 

and  more  and  more  the  whisky  jacks  come  and 

mock  me.     They  seem  angry  I  have  nothing  for 

them,  and  so  they  scold,  as  they  do  at  the  camp  fire 

Avhen  we  feed  them  notliing.     To-day  for  a  time 

they  left  me,  and  then  they  came  back  and  seemed 

to  laugh  at  me,  and  then  I  heard  Mustagan  and  Big 

Tom  call,  and  I  was  rescued. 

"J^  suis  fache — I  am  sorry — I  went  hunting.     I 

will  go  no  more.    Sam  may  continue." 

i6o 


m 


1:6 


I 
:  ,  if 


It 


Boys 

"hus  passes 
int.  I  can 
It  I  cannot 
Still  I  call, 
come  and 
othing  for 
I  camp  fire 
tor  a  time 
nd  seemed 
in  and  Big 


unting.    I 


k 

U 


',■ 


The  Mcetiiig  of  Kinesasis  and  Shakoona. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


*/• 


•'^^ 


^"■\ 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Kinesasis's  Wonderful  Story — How  He  Wooed  Shakoona — 
Their  Youthful  Days — Miskoodell  Rescued  from  the  Bear — 
Oosahmekoo  with  His  Gold — Kinesasis's  Successful  Hunt — 
His  Furs  Stolen — Marries  Shakoona — Confiic.  with  the  Old 
Warrior. 

The  romantic  and  tlioroiiglily  characteristic  In- 
dian way  in  which  Kinesasis  had  obtained  his  Indian 
wife  was  one  that  had  very  much  interested  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ross.  Tliey  had  known  him  for  many 
years,  and  had  ever  been  pleased  with  the  kindly, 
helpful  way  in  which  he  had  always  treated  his  wife, 
whom  he  called  Shakoona.  ''Shakoona"  means  ''the 
snow-white  one,"  and  those  who  knew  her  well,  and 
studied  her  quiet,  gentle  manner,  said  she  was  well 
named.  The  terrible  loss  of  her  children  had  been 
such  a  shock  that  her  once  black,  luxuriant  tresses 
had  become  as  white  as  the  snow,  making  her  name 
more  impressive  than  ever  before. 

The  story  of  how  he  iiad  obtained  his  wife  Kine- 
sasis was  induced  to  tell  one  evening  at  Sagasta- 
weekee,  when  fierce  winds  were  howling  around 
the  place  and  at  times  seemed  to  strike  with  such 
fury  against  the  house  that  they  appeared  like  wild 
beasts  shrieking  for  their  prey.  As  a  general  thing 
Kinesasis  was  not  very  communicative  on  matters 
relating  to  himself,  but  as  Mrs.  Ross,  who  had  some 
knowledge  of  how  he  had  obtained  his  wife — indeed, 
her  mother  had  a  little  to  do  with  its  consummation 

— had  asked  him  to  tell  it  for  the  pleasure  of  the 
11  i#i 


Ill 


Winter  ADvrNTfTRT?s  of  Three  "Roifs 

boys  and  some  good  frieiicl-^  wbc  had  come  over  for 
a  day  or  two  from  the  mission   he  could  not  refuse. 

The  great  log  fire  roared  in  the  large  fireplace  in 
the  dining  room,  while  round  it  gathered  the  ex- 
pectant listeners.  Mrs.  Ross  had  sent  over  to  Kine- 
sasis's  little  home  and  had  brought  from  thence 
Shakoona,  his  wife.  She  was  low,  like  Kinesasis, 
getting  up  in  years,  yet  she  was  the  same  shy,  clever, 
modest,  retiring  woman  she  had  ever  been,  and  yet, 
as  will  be  seen,  there  was  that  latent  courage  in  her 
that  mother's  love  can  best  bring  out.  The  inevita- 
ble pipe  had  to  be  produced  and  gravely  smoked  by 
Kinesasis,  and  those  who  would  smoke  with  him, 
ere  the  talking  could  begin.  When  this  ceremony 
was  over  Kinesasis,  looking  kindly  at  Shakoona, 
began : 

"We  had  been  children  together  in  the  forest. 
Our  fathers'  wigwams  were  not  far  apart.  With 
other  Indian  children  we  iiad  played  in  the  wild 
woods,  among  the  rocks  and  on  the  shores  of  the 
great  lakes.  When  large  enough  to  help  I  had  to  go 
and  in  i ;,  skill  in  setting  snares  for  the  rabbits  and 
part^idg'^;  and  other  small  game.  The  trail  along 
which  I  used  to  travel  each  morning,  as  I  visited  my 
snares  and  traps,  was  the  one  in  which  I  often  found 
little  Shakoona  getting  sticks  for  the  fire  in  her 
father's  wigwam.  He  was  a  stern  man  and  cruel, 
and  very  fond  of  gain. 

"The  years  rolled  on,  and  I  was  now  a  hunter,  and 

could  use  the  bow  and  arrows  of  rny  forefathers,  as 

well  as  the  gun  of  the  white  man,  which  was  now 

being  brought  into  the  country.    Shakoona  was  now 

162 


i 


>l 


over  for 
>t  refuse, 
epiace  in 
the  ex- 
to  Kine- 
1  thence 
inesasis, 
T,  clever, 
and  yet, 
e  in  her 
inevita- 
oked  by 
th  him, 
Temony 
akoona, 

forest. 
With 

le  wild 
of  the 

d  to  go 

its  and 
along 

ted  my 
found 
n  her 
cruel, 

r,  and 

^rs,  as 
3  now 
s  now 


IN  TiiE  Great  Lone  Laisd 

grown  up,  and  was  no  longer  a  child,  ^\t•  often 
met,  and  let  it  be  known  that  we  love  1  :ach  other. 
Shakoona's  mother  and  the  other  mei!'!jers  jf  her 
family  were  my  friends,  and  they  all  ha  !  ^:^o\\.  rea- 
son to  be  my  friends,  for  one  summer,  some  years 
before,  when  Miskoodell  was  a  little  child,  I  saved 
her  from  the  paws  of  a  bear.  Her  mother  had  gone 
oiii:  to  gather  moss  and  dry  it  for  the  winter  use. 
She  had  Miskoodell  strapped  in  her  moss-bag  cradle, 
with  its  board  at  the  back.  While  the  niother  was 
at  work  she  left  her  little  baby  girl  in  her  cradle 
standing  up  against  a  tree.  As  the  moss  was  not 
very  good  just  around  that  spot  the  mother  wan- 
dered off  quite  a  distance  to  find  where  it  was  better. 
While  she  was  thus  hard  at  work  a  large  black  bear 
came  along  from  the  opposite  direction.  I  happened 
to  be  out  in  the  woods  with  my  bow  and  arrows 
shooting  partridges  and  what  other  sr^'all  game  I 
could  find,  lor  I  was  then  only  r.  boy. 

*' Where  this  moss  grows  the  grr  md  .'^  very  damp, 
and  it  is  easy  to  walk  very  stiP  i  caae  along,  not 
being  far  behind  the  bear,  and  there  the  first  thing 
I  saw  was  that  big  bear  with  that  ba')v,  cradle,  and 
all  in  his  forearn  s.  He  was  standing  up  on  his 
hind  legs  and  holding  it  awkwardly,  like  a  man 
does." 

This  last  remark  created  quite  a  laugh  at  Klne- 

sasis's  expense;  but  Mrs.  Ross  came  to  his  rescue, 

and  declared  that  the  expression  was  correct.    "For 

a  man,"  she  said,  "always  awkwardly  holds  a  young 

baby — the  first  one,  anyway,"  she  added,  as  she  saw 

her  amused  husband  laughing  at  her. 

163 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


!  - 


"Go  on,  Kinesasis.  You  said  last  that  the  bear 
was  standing  on  his  hind  legs,  and  awkwardly  hold- 
ing the  baby,  as  a  man  does,"  said  Mrs.  Ross. 

Thus  encouraged  by  the  lady  whom  he  so  greatly 
respected,  he  went  on,  and  only  modified  his  state- 
ment by  saying: 

'"Indian  men  do,  anyway.  Well,  there  I  was,  not 
very  far  behind  and  well  hid  behind  the  trees,  and  I 
watched  that  bear,  and  I  think  if  I  had  been  a  white 
boy  I  would  have  laughed.  Strange  to  say,  the  baby 
did  not  cry,  but  seemed  pleased  to  have  some  one 
lift  it  up  in  the  cradle.  The  bear  would  put  his  big 
nose  in  the  baby's  face  very  gently,  and  it  seemed  to 
like  to  feel  this  cold  nose.  All  at  once  I  saw  by  the 
fine  bead  work  in  the  cradle  that  it  was  the  child  of 
the  mother  of  Shakoona,  whom  I  loved,  the  little 
Miskoodell.  Then  I  thought  the  mother  of  the  child 
must  be  lear,  and  while  the  bear  is  kind  to  the  child, 
as  bears  of  that  kind  always  are,  it  will  surely  attack 
the  mother  when  she  comes.  So,  boylike,  I  resolved, 
in  my  great  love  for  Shakoona,  to  try  and  kill  that 
bear.  It  was  well  for  me  that  I  had  some  steel- 
])ointed  arrowheads,  obtained  at  the  traders'  shop. 
These  I  had  not  been  using,  as  they  w^ere  too  valu- 
a])le  to  risk  losing  in  shooting  small  game.  How- 
ever, here  was  game  big  enough.  So  I  at  once 
removed  the  flints  from  three  of  my  best  arrows, 
and  quick'y  lashed  on  these  long  steel  points  with 
sinew. 

*'Ail  this  time  the  bear  was  still  fooling  with  that 

child.    He  would  turn  it  round  and  round,  and  then 

sometimes  he   would   set   it   down,   as   though   he 

164 


; 


)VS 

the  bear 
Uy  hold- 
»ss. 

)  greatly 
lis  state- 
was,  not 
IS,  and  I 
a  white 
the  Ijaby 
3nie  one 
:  his  big 
:enied  to 
v^  by  the 
child  of 
he  Httle 
he  child 
le  child, 
Y  attack 
ssolved, 
:ill  that 
e  steel- 
>'  shop, 
o  valu- 
How- 
t  once 
irrows, 
;s  wnth 

th  that 
d  then 
gh   he 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

wanted  it  to  walk  off  with  him.     At  length,  after 

failing  in  this.  It  seemed  to  me  as  if  he  were  going 

to  start  off  and  carry  the  child  with  him.     W^ien  1 

saw  this  I  knew  that  J  must  now  try  and  shoot  him. 

So    I   crawled   along   on    the   mossy   ground,    and 

dodged  from  tree  to  tree  until  1  was  very  near  him. 

Once  or  twice  I  was  going  to  shoot,  but  I  was  afraid 

of  hitting  the  child.    All  at  once  I  saw  him  drop  the 

cradle  and  straighten  himself  up  and  listen.    He  had 

heard    something   that    startled    him.     It    was   the 

mother  coming  back.     Now^  in  the  distance  I,  too, 

could  see  her  coming.     She  had  a  large  bundle  of 

moss  on  her  head  which  she  was  supporting  with 

both  hands.     She  had  neither  gun  nor  knife. 

"I  could  wait  no  longer.    I  drew  my  arrow  to  the 

head  of  my  bow  and,  as  the  bear  was  standing  up 

with  his  side  toward  me,  and  his  paws  were  w^ell  up, 

I  aimed  for  his  side,  just  under  the  leg,  and  sent  the 

arrow  with  all  the  force  I  could.     I  was  perhaps 

twelve  years  old,  but  I  well  knew,  like  Indian  boys, 

how  to  use  the  bow.    My  arrow  struck  just  where  I 

wanted  it  to.     It  entered  his  side  near  the  heart. 

With  a  savage  growd  he  jumped,  but  he  had  not  seen 

or  heard  me.    He  only  saw-  and  felt  the  arrow,  and 

so  that  was  his  only  enemy,  he  thought.     That  is 

the  advantage  of  hunting  with  the  bow  over  the  gun. 

If  you  can  keep  hidden,  with  bow  and  arrows  the 

animals  are  not  alarmed  at  your  presence,  but  with 

a  noisy  gun  the  animal  knows  where  you  are  and 

comes  for  you.    So  it  was  in  this  case ;  the  bear  only 

tried  to  get  hold  of  the  arrow  that  was  sticking  into 

his  side.    He  twisted  himself  round  and  round  and 

165 


i 


I  • 


f'. 


♦ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

tried  to  pull  it  out  with  his  paw  on  the  oppc^site  side, 
but  I  had  vSciit  it  with  such  force  that  he  could  not 
succeed.  The  more  he  worked  at  it  the  more  the 
blood  poured  out  of  the  wound.  lie  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  now  all  about  the  child  and  the  coming 
mother,  so  I  was  sure  he  was  badly  hurt.  But  he 
was  far  fiom  dead,  and  very  angry  at  the  arrow,  so  I 
thought  I  would  give  him  another  one.  This  one 
I  sent  into  the  other  side,  as  he  was  moving  round 
and  round.  When  this  second  one  struck  him  he 
seemed  to  think  that  he  was  in  the  wrong  place,  and 
had  better  start  for  his  den ;  and  so  off  he  hurried, 
coming  right  by  where  I  was  hid.  I  still  had  one 
steel-pointed  arrow^  With  this  one  ready  to  shoot 
I  sprang  up  before  him.  I  was  going, to  try  and 
shoot  him  between  the  eyes,  but  at  the  sight  of  me 
he  threw  u])  his  head,  and  so  I  shot  the  arrow  into 
his  throat.  He  gave  one  great  spring  at  me,  but  it 
w^as  his  last,  and  there  he  lay  quite  dead.  When 
we  opened  him  we  found  that  one  of  my  arrows  had 
entered  into  his  heart,  and  when  he  made  that  last 
spring  at  me  it  did  its  work.  The  mother  of  Sha- 
koona  picked  up  the  cradle  in  which  was  Miskoodell, 
and  found  her  child  uninjured.  She  w-as  of  our 
race,  and  therefore  did  not  say  much,  but  I  knew 
that  T  had  made  a  friend.  \ 

''Some  years  went  by,  and  I  brought  my  presents 
and  asked  the  father  of  Shakoona  for  her  to  be  my 
wife,  but  he  was  stern  and  cruel,  and  appeared  to 
have  forgotten  that  I  had  rescued  Miskoodell.  In- 
deed, when  told  the  story  he  only  said,  *It  was  only 

a  girl,  anyway,  that  was  rescued.'     Since  we  have 

j66 


1 


'    ^ 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


become  Christians,  thanks  to  the  missionaries,  we 
now  think  as  much  oi  ;ne  girls  as  of  the  boys.  But 
Wahbunoo,  for  that  was  his  name,  s[)urnccl  my  few 
gifts,  for  he  was  very  selfish,  and  said  that  he  that 
would  receive  Shakoona  must  bring  many  gifts,  and 
even  the  *Keche  Shuncou,'  the  gold  of  the  white 
man,  ere  he  could  have  her.  This  was  bad  news,  but 
T  saw  he  was  strong  in  his  mind,  and  so  I  gathered 
up  my  gifts,  which  with  all  Indian  ceremony  I  had 
laid  at  his  feet,  and  without  a  word  1  left  his  wig- 
wam. That  night  Shakoona  and  I  met  for  a  short 
time,  and  we  gave  our  promise  to  each  other,  and 
vowed  to  be  true  to  each  other,  no  matter  what 
might  happen. 

As  I  saw  it  was  a  large  price  Wahbunoo  wanted, 
I  plunged  that  fall  into  the  forest  with  my  traps  and 
plenty  of  weapons.  My  object  was  to  hunt  very 
hard,  and  so  be  able  in  the  springtime  to  bring  in  so 
many  skins  of  the  silver  and  black  foxes,  with 
beaver,  mink,  otter,  marten,  and  other  rich  furs,  that 
I  could  change  them  for  rich  presents,  or  even  for 
gold,  with  the  traders,  and  thus  cause  Wahbunoo  to 
look  kindly  on  my  gifts  and  grant  me  my  wish.  To 
carry  out  this  purpose  I  went  far  away,  where  I  was 
told  by  hunters  that  but  few  ever  hunted  and  that 
the  game  I  was  after  was  very  plentiful.  The  reason 
why  it  was  so  little  visited  by  hunters  was  that  it 
was  reported  that  great  Windegoos,  man-eaters, 
there  haunted  the  deep  forests,  and  that  many  hunt- 
ers had  mysteriously  disappeared.  They  had  gone 
there  with  great  hopes  of  success,  but  had  never  re- 
turned.   The  man-eating  Windegoos,  that  were  so 

167 


•  II 
ill 


WiNTicR  Adventuuks  OK  'I'liui:!':  Hoys 

great  and  high  lliat  they  could  hnish  the  trees  aside 
as  they  walked  alonjj^,  they  said,  had  devoured  them. 
So  it  was  said  and  helieved  hy  many.  So  great  was 
my  love  for  Shakoona  that  1  cared  for  none  of  these 
stories,  and  was  willing  to  run  all  risks  for  her  sake; 


!i.  V  and  reac 


I 


:hed 


and  so  1  made  the  many  d.iys'  jou 

those  huntinsr  irrounds.     All  winter  !  worked  hard, 


'.^  {-> 


and  met  with  good  success. 

But  while  I  was  far  away  things  were  going  on  at 
the  spot  where  dwelt  Shakoona  that  were  to  my 
hurt.  One  day  there  walked  into  her  father's  tent  a 
great  chief  having  on  his  face  and  body  the  scars  of 
many  battles.  But  while  he  was  surely  a  brave  war- 
rior he  was  a  man  of  fierce  temper,  and  some  of  the 
wives  he  already  had  showed  the  marks  of  his  fierce 
anger.  The  top  of  the  head  of  one  of  them  was  hard 
and  dry,  for  Oosahmekoo — that  was  his  name — had 
in  his  anger,  because  she  had  not  quickly  prepared 
his  dinner,  rushed  at  her  and,  circling  the  spot  with 
his  knife,  had  torn  away  the  scalp;  and  still  she 
lived.  This  Oosahmekoo  was  the  man  who  came 
with  his  gifts  to  buy  from  Wahbunoo  the  beautiful 
young  vShakoona.  He  had  gone  of¥  with  another 
tribe  in  the  south,  called  the  Sioux,  and  in  one  of 
their  warlike  excursions  they  had  attacked  a  band 
of  white  people  passing  over  the  prairies.  They  had 
crawled  up  to  them  in  the  darkness  of  night,  and  as 
the  watchers  had  gone  to  sleep  they  had  killed  them 
all.  Among  the  pillage  and  plunder  was  a  bag  of 
gold.  The  Sioux  then  knew  not  of  its  worth,  so 
they  gave  it  to  Oosahmekoo,  and  as  he  had  been 

much  among  the  fur  traders  he  knew  it  was  valuable 

i68 


'•♦•, 


IN   TIIK   CIrI'.AT    f.ONK   LaND 

and  carefully  kept  it.  I  le  had  seen  SliaUoona  as  she 
industriously  did  her  work,  and  wanted  her  for 
another  wife.  When  he  entered  the  wij^wam  iiis 
manner  was  so  proud  and  unceremonious  that  even 
W^ahhunoo's  temper  got  the  mastery  over  his  lo'"^ 
for  gold,  and  he  refused  to  let  Shakoona  he  the  sixth 
wife  of  a  man  who  had  no  more  respect  for  the  cus- 
tom of  the  trihe,  and  would  thus  act  hcforc  the 
father  whose  girl  he  wished  to  huy.  So  he  had  to 
pick  u})  his  hag  of  gold  and  leave  die  wigwam.  His 
having  to  leave  in  this  way  gave  ':,:eat  joy  to  the 
mother  of  Shakoona,  and  to  her  hrothers  and  sisters, 
especially  Miskoodell,  who  was  now  a  l)right  young 
girl  herself. 

**But  (^1(1  Oosahmekoo,  although  repulsed  this 
time,  was  not  to  be  easily  put  oflf.  lie  saw  that  he 
had  broken  the  usages  of  his  trihe  in  the  way  that 
he  had  acted,  and  so,  pretending  to  hide  his  anger, 
he  found  times  to  meet  the  father  of  Shakoona  and 
ofYer  his  gold  for  her.  Without  letting  him  know 
the  reason  of  their  so  doing,  his  family  all  seemed 
very  indignant  that  Oosahmekoo  should  have  so  in- 
sulted the  old  father,  and  so  they  kept  him  in  such  a 
state  that  he  refused  the  chief's  ofYer,  but  not  in  such 
a  way  as  to  discourage  him  from  persisting  in  his 
efforts. 

*The  winter  passed  away,  and  I  prepared  to  re- 
turn with  my  heavy  pack  of  rich  furs.  On  the  trail 
of  many  days  I  reached  the  hunting  lodges  of  some 
of  our  people,  who,  being  near,  had  frequently  gone 
to  the  village.     There  they  had  learned  about  the 

efforts  of  Oosahmekoo  to  buy  my  Indian  maiden, 

169 


\ 


^ 

^\^ 
'^7^,-' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


^^^ 
^ 


1.0 


I.I 


U|£i    |25 
■alii 

£  lu 

£  Ki   12.0 

u 


UiSi 


p^i'-M'-6 

< 

6"     

► 

'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5M 

(716)  S73-4S03 


4^ 


I<  i 


i  i^ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

and  of  it  they  told  me.  When  I  heard  it  my  heart 
got  hot,  and  I  clutched  my  knife  and  said  something, 
but  my  friends  urged  me  to  be  wise  and  careful,  for 
the  old  chief  was  cruel  and  powerful.  Some  of  them 
with  lighter  loads  hurried  on,  and  one  who  was  my 
true  friend  went  fast  and  quietly  told  Shakoona  that 
I  was  coming  on  the  trail.  And  some  one  else  had 
told  Oosahmekoo,  and  had  also  told  him  that  I  was 
the  favorite  hunter  of  Shakoona,  and  that  I  was 
bringing  home  sufficient  rich  furs  to  more  than 
equal  his  gold  in  value,  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  Wah- 
bunoo.  The  news  given  to  Shakoona  filled  her  heart 
with  joy,  while  that  given  to  the  old  chief  made  him 
furious  and  eager  to  destroy  me.  With  the  help  of 
her  mother,  who  remembered  how  I  had  killed  the 
bear  and  thus  likely  saved  her  life,  Shakoona  was 
able  to  get  away,  and  met  me  on  the  trail  long  before 
I  entered  the  village.  From  her  I  heard  all  there 
was  to  know.  She  put  her  arms  around  my  neck 
and  kissed  me,  and  said  she  would  die  before  she 
would  be  the  sixth  wife  of  such  a  man.  There  we 
promised  that  we  would  rather  die  than  be  separated. 
We  saw  that  we  would  have  to  be  very  wise  and 
careful,  as  my  friends  had  said.  I  was  glad  to  learn 
that  all  my  maiden's  family  were  friendly  to  me. 
Only  a  little  while  dare  Shakoona  stay  with  me.  If 
her  stern  father  missed  her  there  would  be  trouble, 
even  if  his  love  for  her  was  only  what  she  by  her 
sale  could  bring  to  him.  Before  she  left  me  I  told 
her  that  in  due  form  to-morrow  I  would  enter  her 
father's  wigwam  and  open  my  pack  of  rich  furs  be- 
fore him,  and  by  their  value  would  win  his  consent. 

170 


I 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Then  she  kissed  me  and  quickly  hurried  back  again. 
That  night  following  was  a  bad  night  for  me." 

For  a  time  Kinesasis  paused  in  his  narrative,  and 
seemed,  Indian  though  he  was,  to  be  deeply  moved, 
while  his  aged  wife  buried  her  head  in  her  blanket 
and  bowed  to  the  floor.  Mr.  Ross,  who  knew  his 
story,  respected  the  old  man's  feelings,  and  for  a 
short  time  oaid  and  did  nothing;  then  he  filled  the 
calumet  and  gave  it  to  him.  The  tobacco  and  the 
rest  quieted  his  perturbed  spirits,  and  handing  back 
the  pipe  he  continued  his  most  fascinating  story : 

''Yes,  that  night  I  entered  the  village  was  indeed 
a  bad  night  for  me.  Evil  eyes  had  been  on  Sha- 
koona.  Cunning  steps  had  followed  her,  and  sharp 
ears  had  heard  enough  of  our  story  to  find  out  what 
I  was  going  to  do  next  day  with  my  valuable  furs 
that  I  had  been  eight  long  moons  in  hunting.  As 
I  entered  the  outskirts  of  the  village  I  was  met  by 
a  young  Indian  with  the  word  that  the  wigwam  of 
my  relatives  was  cold  and  empty,  as  they  had  not  yet 
returned  from  their  hunting  grounds,  which  were 
in  an  opposite  direction  from  the  way  in  which  I  had 
come.  Verv  cordial  seemed  the  invitation  of  that 
man  for  me  to  rest  that  night  in  his  wigwam,  which 
was  a  large  one,  being  made  of  many  dressed  buf- 
falo skins  sewed  together. 

"Without  any  distrust  I  accepted  his  invitation, 

as  was  the  manner  of  our  people,  and  was  glad  to 

unstrap  my  hoavy  load  of  furs,  as  well  as  my  gun 

and  traps  and  blanket.    With  much  more  attention 

than  is  generally  shown  to  one  thus  coming  in,  this 

Indian  helped  me  in  various  ways.     With  a  good 

171 


1 


i 


.'    i 


'4 


It    ' 


)l 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

deal  of  show  he  hung  up  my  gun  and  traps  for  me, 

and  placed  my  pack  of  furs  tightly  back  against  the 

leather  wall  of  the  wigwam.     In  the  meantime  fish 

and  venison  were  brought  in,  and  a  good  supper  was 

prepared  and  eaten.    Afterward   we  smoked   and 

talked  for  some  time,  and  then  prepared  to  sleep. 

Noticing   that    the    wind   outside    was    rising,    he 

showed  me  a  place  where  I  could  spread  my  blanket 

where  there  would  be  no  draft,  but  it  was  away  from 

my  pack  of  furs.    At  first  I  thought  I  would  bring 

my  furs  from  the  place  where  they  had  been  put 

and  place  them  at  my  head,  but  this  I  saw  would 

give  offense,  and  now  as  some  young  children  were 

lying  down  to  sleep  near  them  there  was  not  enough 

room  for  me.    Still  a  little  fearful,  I  made  an  excuse 

and  stepped  out  of  the  wigwam  for  a  minute.    There 

T  saw  that  the  snow  was  well  piled  up  against  the 

leather  wall  all  around.    This  quieted  my  fears,  and 

so  I  returned  into  the  wigwam,   and  being  very 

weary  was  soon  fast  asleep.     Tn  the  morning  my 

furs  were  gone!    A  thief   in   the  night   had   cut 

through  the  leather,  making  a  hole  so  large  that  he 

could  easily  and  noiselessly  lift  out  my  pack  of  furs. 

He  had  left  the  upper  part  uncut,  so  that  as  quickly 

as  he  had  obtained  the  pack  he  could  let  the  leather 

down  again  and  thus  cover  up  the  hole.     For  fear 

the  wind  should  get  in  and  disturb  the  inmates  he 

had  quietly  laid  a  large  deerskin  over  the  whole 

place  on  the  outside.    I  was  in  a  sad  state  the  next 

morning,  but  I  kept  my  lips  closed  and  said  but 

little.     The  Indian  family  were  much  excited  and 

angry  at  the  theft.    The  young  Indian  who  had  in- 

172  . 


k'S 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


for  me, 
inst  the 
ime  fish 
per  was 
ed  and 
3  sleep, 
ng,  he 
blanket 
ly  from 
:l  bring 
!en  put 

would 
n  were 
enough 
excuse 

There 
1st  the 
"s,  and 
^  very 
ig  my 
id  cut 
hat  he 
f  furs, 
uickly 
eather 
r  fear 
tes  he 
whole 
:  next 
1  but 
1  and 
id  in- 


vited me  in  made  a  greater  ado  than  anyone.  I  sus- 
pected him  at  once  of  being  the  one  who  had  robbed 
me,  but  I  had  then  no  evidence,  and  so  carefully  held 
my  tongue.  But  I  thought  a  great  deal,  and  in  time 
1  foinid  out  that  he  was  in  the  plot. 

"What  to  do  I  knew  not.  However,  refusing  to 
again  eat  under  the  wigwam  where  I  had  been  so 
robbed,  I  took  my  gun,  blanket,  and  traps  and 
pushed  on  to  the  wigwam  of  my  friends,  and  to  my 
surprise  found  them  in  it,  and  there  they  had  been 
for  some  days.  Then  I  knew  that  that  young  Indian 
was  an  enemy.  To  my  friends  1  told  of  my  success, 
and  of  my  loss.  We  set  about  the  recovery  of  them 
at  once.  Runners  were  sent  to  every  trading  post 
describing  the  contents  of  the  packs  and  telling  the 
traders  the  circumstances  of  the  robbery.  There 
was  great  indignation.  Such  robberies  are  very  rare. 
If  the  thieves  are  found  out  they  are  generally 
qtiickly  poisoned  by  the  conjurers  of  the  tribe.  That 
is  one  of  the  things  they  are  expected  to  do.  A  rob- 
ber of  traps  or  furs  is  soon  poisoned.  Then  the 
traders  themselves  are  down  on  these  things.  So 
the  storv  of  the  theft  was  soon  known,  but  the  furs 
were  not  recovered  until  a  long  time  after. 

''Wahbunoo  was  very  cold  and  repellent.    He 

would  not  believe  my  story,  and  so  refused  to  have 

me  come  to  his  wigwam.     So  Shakoona  and  I  had 

to  meet  when  we  could,  and  that  was  not  often,  for 

the  father  was  cruel  and  Oosahmekoo  had  many 

spies.    Still,  we  had  many  friends.    Miskoodell,  the 

little  sister,  was  sharp  and  shrewd,  and  helped  us 

greatly   by   warning   us   of   danger.     So   did    her 

173 


:.  1 


p 


\ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

brother,  Netahwatee.  He  was  a  good  hunter,  and 
had  friends  who  had  seen  the  furs.  He  had  been  on 
the  alert,  and  had  found  out  that  the  young  Indian 
who  had  invited  me  into  his  wigwam  had  (hiring  the 
winter  hung  around  the  tent  and  had  asked  Sha- 
koona  to  be  his  wife.  She  had  repelled  him  with 
scorn,  and  Netahwatee  had  told  him  that  she  was 
fond  of  Kinesasis,  and  that  even  now  he  was  away 
in  the  forest  hunting,  to  bring  in  sufficient  rich  furs 
to  buy  the  consent  of  their  father.  At  this  news 
from  Netahwatee,  he  arose  and  left  the  tent,  but  he 
ground  his  teeth  as  he  went  out.  After  that  he  was 
often  seen  in  earnest  talk  with  Oosahmekoo,  the  old 
chief,  and  it  was  the  belief  of  many  that  they  had 
been  the  ones  who  had  planne '  the  stealing  of  the 
furs.  But  they  were  cunning,  and  so  covered  up  the 
tracks  that  a  long  time  passed  ere  the  truth  came  out. 
But,  although  some  of  the  family  were  friendly  to- 
ward me,  the  father  of  Shakoona  turned  more  and 
more  against  us.  The  gold  of  the  old  chief  was 
offered  again  and  again,  and  at  length  I  heard  that 
there  was  a  likelihood  that  he  would  yield,  although 
Shakoona  still  declared  that  she  would  throw  her- 
self from  the  cliff  into  the  lake  rather  than  marry 
him.  And  this  I  think  she  would  have  done,  for  we 
loved  each  other,  and  do  still." 

Here  the  old  man  stooped  over  and,  tenderly  lift- 
ing up  the  head  of  his  aged  wife,  kissed  her  on  the 
forehead. 

"One  day  some  little  boys  out  hunting  rabbits 

among  the  great  rocks  overheard  some  earnest  talk- 

At  first  they  were  frightened,  and  were  about 

174 


mg. 


YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ter,  and 
been  on 
r  Indian 
ring  the 
ed  Sha- 
im  with 
she  was 
is  away 
ich  furs 
is  news 
but  he 
he  was 
the  old 
ey  had 
of  the 
up  the 
ne  out. 
dly  to- 
re and 
'f  was 
d  that 
hough 
V  her- 
marry 
or  we 

y  lift- 
•n  the 

ibbits 

talk- 

ibout 


running  home  when  one  of  them,  who  was  Sha- 
koona's  youngest  brother,  proposed  that  they  creep 
to  the  top  of  the  rocks  and  try  and  see  who  the 
talkers  were  on  the  other  side.  Noiselessly  they 
crawled  to  the  top,  and  then  as  they  peeked  over 
whom  should  they  see  but  Wahbunoo  and  Oosahme- 
koo  in  earnest  talk  ?  They  saw  the  chief  with  a  fire 
bag  that  seemed  heavy  and  saw  him  offer  it  to 
Wahbunoo,  who  took  it  and  held  it.  Then  the  little 
boys  slid  down  the  rocks  and  returned  to  the  tents. 
Netahwatee's  little  brother  told  what  he  had  seen, 
and  the  brother  told  his  mother  and  Miskoodell. 
They  talked  it  over,  and  Miskoodell  was  sent  to 
warn  us  of  what  was  being  done. 

"So  that  very  night  we  quietly  left  the  village  and 
hurried  to  a  place  where  Netahwatee,  who  had  gone 
on  some  hours  before,  met  us  with  a  white  man,  a 
missionary.  He  was  pleased  to  hear  from  Netah- 
watee that  there  was  an  Indian  couple  who  wanted 
to  be  married  by  the  Book,  in  the  Christian  way,  and 
not  in  the  old  pagan  Indian  manner;  but,"  said 
Kinesasis,  with  a  bit  of  a  twinkle  in  his  eye;  "he  did 
think  it  was  a  queer  idea  of  ours  that  we  wanted  to 
be  married  out  there  in  the  forest  by  moonlight. 
However,  as  we  had  with  us  what  he  called  wit- 
nesses, he  married  us.  We  did  not  then  return  to  the 
village,  but  went  off  with  some  friendly  relatives  at 
a  trading  post  where  the  Indians  were  all  Christians. 
Netahwatee  and  the  others  who  had  been  with  us 
went  back  at  once  and  told  how  we  had  met  the 
missionary  and  had  been  married  with  the  Book. 

Strange  to  say,  when  Wahbunoo  heard  this  he  said 

175 


Fi 

1    HB 

^^B; 

^^^K 

;;    ii 

m  It' 


11 


f  f^ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

he  ilid  not  care,  and  would  not  oppose  us  as  we  were 
married  by  the  Book,  xle  was  very  superstitious, 
and  was  afraid  that  evil  vvould  come  to  him  if  he 
seemed  to  be  angry  with  anyMie  who  had  had  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  Book. 

"It  was  very  different,  however,  with  Oosahme- 
koo,  the  old  chief.  He  was  wild  with  anger.  He 
made  many  threats.  He  was  not  as  cunning  as  he 
generally  was,  and  so  he  told  his  plans  to  get  re- 
vcn  ;e.  He  was  going  to  waylay  me  and  kill  me  on 
the  trail.  Some  of  my  friends  overheard  his  threats, 
and  a  swift  runner  put  me  on  my  guard.  I  felt  that 
my  youth  was  a  match  for  his  years,  and  then  I  had 
won  my  loved  Shakcona.  So  I  had  no  fear.  I  left 
my  wife  among  friends,  and  I  started  on  the  return 
trail.  We  met  in  conflict,  and  I  was  not  hurt.  He 
was  quietly  buried  the  next  day." 

Here  Kinesasis  ceased.     He  could  say  no  more 

that  night,  the  memory  of  the  battle  came  up  so 

vividly  before  him,  although  many  years  had  passed 

away  since  it  had  occurred.     Since  then  he  and  his 

old  wife  had  become  Christians.    He  paused  for  an 

instant,  and  then  went  over  to  the  place  where  on  the 

floor  the  heroine  of  his  story,  his  true  little  wife,  had 

sat  during  the  long  recita'.    Then  tucking  her  arm 

in  his,  as  lovingly  and  as  affectionately  as  any  white 

man  could  have  done,  they  quickly  slipped  out  of  the 

house  and  returned  to  their  own  little  dwelling  place. 

176 


i 


p<' 


YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


we  were 
•stitious, 
m  if  he 
lad  any- 

osahme- 
er.  He 
ig  as  he 
get  re- 
1  me  on 
threats, 
:elt  that 
n  I  had 
Heft 
:  return 
rt.    He 

)  more 
up  so 
passed 
nd  his 
for  an 
on  the 
e,  had 
r  arm 
white 
of  the 
place. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Conlmehts  otl  Kttlesasis's  Wonderful  Story — The  Pack  of 
Furs  Recovered— Honesty  of  Indians — Their  Different  Hunt- 
mg  Grounds — Tho  Golden  Rule — The  Dishonest  Foreign  In- 
dian—His Sudden  Death. 

The  next  morning  the  wonderful  story  of  Klne- 
sasis,  which  had  produced  such  a  deep  impression  on 
all,  was  thoroughly  discussed.  During  its  recital 
some  one  had  quietly  turned  down  the  lamps,  and 
thus  the  lights  from  the  bright  fireplace  had  full  play 
upon  him.  This  seemed  to  add  to  the  effect  of  the 
scene,  as  frequently  Kinesasis,  in  his  intense  earnest- 
ness and  few  but  strong  movements,  stood  in  the 
Ijright  light  or  turned  into  a  shadowy  place.  As  the 
story  was  light  and  shadowy  itself,  so  also  seemed 
in  appearance  this  dramatic  old  Indian  so  eloquent 
with  his  theme.  He  had  deeply  stirred  and  excited 
the  boys  as  he  had  moved  along  in  his  story;  and 
not  only  this,  but  he  had  changed  their  ideas  con- 
cerning him.  This  complete  revulsion  of  feeling  had 
come  at  the  close,  when  the  old  Indian,  whom  they 
had  thought  was  so  cold  and  destitute  of  sentiment, 
had  stooped  down  and  kissed  his  wife,  as  he  had 
also  done  before  during  the  recital  of  the  story.  It 
was  done  in  a  way  that  was  so  real  and  genuine  that 
it  completely  broke  them  down.  They  declared  that 
morning  that  they  would  not  quickly  judge  anyone 
again.  They  had  thought  him  phlegmatic  and  un- 
lovable, and  now^  here  had  come  out  from  the  heart 

of  this  Indian,  of  such  a  rugged  exterior,  a  story 
12  177 


i,  I 


I* 

<  ■  I, 


J: 


U  i  :■;: 


tl 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

and  an  exhibition  of  love  and  devotion  more  genuine 
and  beautiful  than  any  that  had  ever  been  revealed 
to  them  in  song  or  story. 

"And  for  very  many  years,"  said  Mrs.  Ross,  "he 
has  been  kind  and  true  to  that  quiet,  industrious 
little  wife,  who  as  a  young  maiden  was  so  true  to 
him  and  would  undoubtedly  have  died  rather  than 
marry  that  chief." 

"What  about  his  pack  of  furs?"  said  Frank. 
"And  did  they  find  out  the  thief  and  put  the  con- 
jurers after  him?" 

"I  am  glad  you  have  mentioned  it,"  said  Mr. 
Ross.  "I  have  heard  Kinesasis  tell  the  story  of  their 
recovery,  and  will  give  you  his  version  of  it.  As 
regards  the  actual  transgressors,  they  must  have 
been  the  old  chief  who  was  killed  and  the  young 
Indian  whom  Shakoona  had  refused.  When  the 
old  chief  was  killed  the  young  fellow  disappeared 
and  was  never  heard  of  afterward.  When  the 
leather  wigwam  that  had  been  cut  into  was  care- 
fully examined  it  was  found  that  the  knife  had  been 
used  on  the  inside,  and  that  the  great  pack  of  furs 
had  been  handed  out,  so  there  must  have  been  at 
least  two  persons  engaged  in  the  robbery.  Weeks 
later  some  women  out  snaring  rabbits  in  a  dense 
swampy  place  found  the  pack  cached  up  among  the 
branches  of  a  great  spruce  tree.  It  was  so  completely 
hidden  in  the  close  branches  that  it  was  a  won- 
der that  they  ever  discovered  it.  The  only  clew  they 
had  was  that  a  great  wolverine  came  tumbling  out 
of  the  tree  and  hurried  away  into  the  dense  forest. 

The  women,  like  the  men,  knew  what  clever  animals 

178 


1 


I 


h 


I 


>YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


;  genuine 
revealed 

Loss,  "he 
lustrious 
)  true  to 
her  than 

.  Frank, 
the  con- 

;aid  Mr. 

'  of  their 

•  it.     As 

4st  have 

e  young 

'^hen  the 

ippeared 

hen   the 

as  care- 

lad  been 

of  furs 

3een  at 

Weeks 

dense 

ong  the 

npletely 

won- 

ew  they 

ing  out 

forest. 

animals 


I 


these  wolverines  are  to  find  out  where  venison  or 
other  game  has  been  hid  away  until  needed.  So,  as 
their  curiosity  was  excited,  they  carefully  searched 
the  tree,  which  was  very  large  one,  and  there  in 
among  the  dense  bnniches  the>  found  the  pack  of 
Kinesasis.  They  were  not  able  to  reach  it,  but  re- 
ported their  discovery  when  (hey  returned  to  the 
village.  Kinesasis  and  others  were  soon  after  it.  It 
was  well  that  they  found  it  when  they  did,  as  the 
wolverine  had  cut  through  the  outer  coverings  of 
deerskin  and  had  already  ruined  several  valuable 
furs.  In  an  hour  more  there  would  have  been  noth- 
ing worth  taking  away,  so  terribly  destructive  are 
these  animals  when  they  thus  find  anything  of  fur  or 
game. 

''Strange  to  say,  old  Wahbunoo  would  not  accept 
anything  from  Kinesasis.  The  death  of  the  old 
chief  had  very  much  disturbed  >im,  and  it  also  gave 
him  such  an  idea  of  Kinesasis's  prowess  that  he  had 
to  respect  him.  The  bag  of  gold  also  disappeared, 
and  to  this  day  none  knows  what  became  of  it.  Kine- 
sasis carried  his  furs  t  •  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's 
store,  and  received  enough  for  them  to  make  him 
and  Shakoona  comfortable  for  many  a  day." 

*T  have  alwavs  heard  that  Indians  were  so  honest 
with  each  other  about  their  furs  and  traps,"  said 
Alec;  "but  this  stealing  of  Kinesasis's  whole  pack 
seems  to  knock  that  idea  over.  What  are  we  to 
believe  about  it?" 

"What  you  have  heard  about  the  honesty  of  the 
Indians  is  the  truth,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  "This  steal- 
ing of  the  furs  of  Kinesasis  was  not  an  ordinary 

179 


1 

4 


1.1, 


I 


Jl! 


!l 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

llicft  for  |;ain.  The  object  of  it  was  to  prevent  liini 
from  having  snfficient  f^ifts  to  satisfy  the  father  of 
the  maiden  of  his  choice.  The  fact  that  the  fnrs 
were  hid  away  as  they  were  showed  this.  They 
could  not  bury  them,  as  the  ground  was  frozen  hke 
granite ;  they  dare  not  burn  tliem  for  fear  of  detec- 
tion ;  and  the  ice  was  too  thick  on  the  rivers  or  lakes 
to  be  (juickly  cut  through.  It  was  very  evident  that 
they  ditl  not  try  to  sell  them." 

"But  did  not  the  thieves  hide  them  there  so  that 
they  could  go  and  get  them,  and  sell  them  when  the 
excitement  of  then-  loss  had  passed  over?''  said  Alec, 
who  was  a  boy  who  had  a  habit  of  seeing  things 
from  different  sides  and  liked  to  have  all  the  diffi- 
culties cleared  up. 

Mr.  Ross  admired  this  trait  in  Alec's  character, 
and  always  endeavored  to  meet  it  in  a  way  that  was 
helpful  to  the  lad.  So  to  this  last  question  his 
answer  was : 

"No  Indian  who  wished  to  preserve  anything  of 
value  for  future  use  would  think  of  putting  it  up  in 
such  a  place.  They  all  know  the  thievish,  destruc- 
tive habits  of  the  wolverines,  and  other  animals  of 
that  kind,  that  quickly  detect  and  destroy  every- 
thing destructible  if  placed  in  a  tree  in  the  manner 
in  which  this  was  done.  The  wonder  was  that  this 
was  not  found  out  much  sooner  and  completely 
destroyed." 

"Tell  us,  please,"  said  Sam,  "how  the  hunters  act 
toward  each  other  in  regard  to  their  hunting 
grounds  and  furs.  Have  they  any  titles  to  the  dif- 
ferent places  where  they  hunt  year  after  year?' 

i8o 


i>> 


i 


)YS 


IN  TiiK  (Irkat  I.onk  Land 


vent  him 
tatlier  of 
the  furs 
i.  They 
)zen  hke 
L)f  (letec- 
or  hikes 
lent  that 

I  so  that 
vhen  the 
licl  Alec, 
g"  things 
the  diffi- 

laracter, 
that  was 
tion   his 

thing  of 
it  up  in 
destruc- 
mals  of 
every- 
manner 
hat  this 
npletely 

ters  act 
lunting 
the  dif- 


( 


/ 


' ' 


"They  have  no  writlen  titles,"  said  Mr.  Ros: . 
"Imt  for  generations  the  same  families  have  hunttd 
in  the  same  localities.  Then  some  Indians,  genera- 
tion after  generation,  are  noted  as  famous  hunters 
of  certain  animals,  h'or  example,  L'.ig  Tom  is  noted 
as  a  successful  moose  hutUer,  and  so  were  his  im- 
mediate ancestors.  Others  made  a  specialty  of  the 
heavers,  others  of  the  otter,  and  thus  it  went.  These 
Indian  families  naturally  had  localities  where  these 
different  animals  ahounded,  although  there  were 
«^easons  when  other  varieties  of  fur-hearing  animals 
swarmed  through  tliese  regions,  and  for  a  time  were 
really  more  numerous  than  the  ones  there  generally 
hunted.  As  might  have  heen  expected,  the  hunters 
of  the  moose,  reindeer,  hlack  hears,  and  other  large 
animals  that  wander  over  immense  districts  had  the 
right  of  following  them  in  any  direction.  The 
hunters  and  trappers  of  the  rich  fur-hearing  animals, 
howexer,  generally  kept  in  certain  regions  year  after 
year.  Sometimes  a  hunter  in  order  to  reach  his  own 
grounds  had  to  pass  through  what  we  might  call  the 
])reserves  of  three  or  four  different  families.  I  once 
accompanierl  a  huriter  to  his  groiinds,  and  we  saw  no 
less  than  seventy  traps  of  other  Indians  on  the  trail 
as  we  passed  along  mile  after  mile.  In  one  of  them 
was  a  heautiful  mink.  My  Indian  companion  at 
once  stopped,  and,  putting  his  pack  off  his  back, 
opened  it  and  cut  off  some  of  his  bait.  Then  he  took 
the  mink  out  c  I  Mie  trap  and  reset  it,  supplying  it 
with  his  own  bau.  The  mink  he  tied  to  the  top  of 
a  young  sapling,  which  he  bent  down  for  the  pur- 
pose.   When  he  let  go  of  the  young  tree  it  sprang 

i8i 


i  I 


il  J 


*  I 


I  , 


1^1  ■ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

up  so  that  the  mink  hung  in  the  air,  about  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground.  Here  it  was  safe  from  the 
prowHng  wolverines  and  other  anini'ls.  Then  the 
Indian  made  some  peculiar  marks  upon  the  tree  with 
his  ax.  His  pack  was  then  again  shouldered,  and  we 
proceeded  on  our  way.  I  was  very  much  interested 
in  his  proceedings,  and  so  when  he  had  completed 
his  work  I  asked  him  if  that  trap  belonged  to  his 
brother  or  some  relative. 

"  'No,'  he  replied,  *I  do  not  yet  know  whose  hunt- 
ing ground  this  is,  but  my  duty  is  to  do  as  you  have 
seen  me  act.  Perhaps  when  that  hunter  comes  along 
to-morrow  or  next  day  he  will  find  another  mink  in 
that  trap.  Then  with  two  instead  of  one  he  will  be 
the  more  pleased.'  " 

"Well  done,  honest  Indian!"  shouted  the  boys, 
when  they  heard  this.  "There  is  a  lesson  for  many 
a  white  man." 

"And  boys,  too,"  added  Sam. 

Continuing,  Mr.  Ross  said :  "This  was  the  under- 
stood custom.  It  might  seem  a  little  burdensome  on 
the  man  who  had  the  farthest  to  go,  and  quite  a  tax 
on  his  supply  of  bait.  But  then  he  had  the  advan- 
tage when  he  reached  his  hunting  grounds,  in  that 
there  were  fewer  human  footsteps,  and,  in  all  proba- 
bility, correspondingly  more  game." 

"Were  there  no  exceptions — none  who  would 
take  a  mink  or  otter  if  they  had  a  chance  from  a 
neighbor's  trap,  if  they  thought  they  could  escape 
detection,"  asked  Alec. 

"I  only  remember  of  one  case  occurring  in  many 

years,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "and  there  was  soon  a  dead 

182 


il 


OYS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ut  fifteen 
from  the 
Then  the 
tree  with 
d,  and  we 
nterested 
ompicted 
ed  to  his 

Dse  hunt- 
you  have 
les  along 
mink  in 
e  will  be 

he  boys, 
or  many 


e  under- 
some  on 
te  a  tax 
advan- 
in  that 
proba- 

would 
from  a 
escape 

I  many 
a  dead 


I 


\ 


man  at  the  end  of  it.  It  was  the  winter  after  the 
great  flood  in  Red  River.  A  number  of  Indians  who 
lived  near  its  mouth  were  driven  out  by  the  great 
flood.  Some  of  them  came  into  this  North  country. 
The  most  of  them  were  industrious  and  worked 
hard.  By  fishing,  shooting,  and  hunting  where  no 
persons  specially  claimed  the  localities  they  did  well, 
and  got  on  as  did  the  others.  There  were  a  few 
among  them  who  apparently  did  nothing,  but 
lounged  about  and  lived  on  the  industrious  ones. 
No  notice  was  taken  of  these.  There  was  one  man, 
however,  who  soon  began  to  be  talked  about.  He 
was  not  known  to  have  any  traps,  nor  was  he  ever 
seen  to  make  any  dead  falls  or  other  tl'ings  to  catch 
the  fur-bearing  animals.  Yet  he  often  sauntered 
into  the  trading  post  and  brought  out  from  under 
his  coat  a  fine  mink  or  marten,  and  sometimes  even 
a  splendid  otter.  Soon  some  of  the  hunters  began 
to  speak  about  strange  tracks  about  their  traps.  One 
hunter  told  of  how  he  had  visited  one  of  his  otter 
traps  and  had  found  a  quantity  of  hairs  of  an  otter 
on  the  teeth,  and  yet  the  trap  was  set.  He  had  also 
observed  where  somebody  who  chewed  tobacco  had 
been  spitting  on  the  snow  near  this  same  otter  trap. 
Now,  while  these  northern  Indians  are  great  smok- 
ers, they  never  chew  tobacco,  but  this  suspected  man, 
who  had  in  the  Red  River  country  been  much  with 
the  whites,  was  nearly  always  chewing  and  spitting. 
Then  there  was  the  suspicious  circumstance  that  a 
few  days  after  he  was  offering  at  the  Company's 
store  a  fine  otter  skin  for  sale.    The  Indians  then 

were  nearly  all  pagans,  and  there  was  no  law  in  the 

183 


tii-fr 


!*^ 


■>4 


Ifi 


w 


il 


l-t  I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

land  but  their  own  tribal  one.  A  secret  council  was 
held,  and  it  was  decided  to  put  a  watch  on  this  man. 
Two  or  three  of  the  cleverest  Indians  were  ap- 
pointed to  watch  his  steps.  Cunning  though  he  was, 
they  were  too  clever  for  him,  and  they  so  well  fol- 
lowed him  up  that  they  saw  him  take  a  mink  out  of  a 
trap.  Then,  resetting  the  trap,  he  hid  the  mink 
under  his  coat,  and  rapidly  disappeared  in  the  forest. 
The  detectives  did  not  rush  out  and  capture  him. 
They  did  not  even  let  him  know  of  their  presence. 
As  quietly  as  they  had  followed  him,  so  they  did 
return.  The  secret  council  was  again  summoned. 
A  message  was  sent  to  a  noted  conjurer  of  the  tribe, 
famous  for  his  deadly  poisons.  Two  days  after  a 
big  Indian  lay  dead  in  the  birch  wigwam  of  one  of 
the  Red  River  Indian  families.  The  burial  was  very 
quick  and  (juiet.  Not  much  w^as  said.  Indians  do 
not,  on  some  subjects,  talk  much,  but  it  was  ob- 
served for  long  years  after  that  no  hunter  ever 
complained  of  his  traps  being  robbed." 

"I  cannot  see,"  said  Frank,  *Svhy  any  honest  per- 
son could  complain  of  any  such  laws  as  those.  They 
w^ere  certain  that  he  was  guilty,  and  then  they 
quickly  punished  him." 

"Yes,"  said  Mr.   Ross;  "to  some  it  may  seem 

severe  that  he  had  to  be  killed,  but  the  severity  in 

this  case  crushed  out  the  crime.    None  dare  imitate 

him  for  fear  of  suffering  his  doom." 

184 


|.; 


REE  Boys 

ret  council  was 
ch  on  this  man. 
Hans  were  ap- 
though  he  was, 
ley  so  well  fol- 
a  mink  out  of  a 
hid  the  mink 
d  in  the  forest. 
1  capture  him. 
their  presence. 
ti,  so  they  did 
in  summoned, 
er  of  the  tribe, 
3  days  after  a 
vam  of  one  of 
urial  was  very 
I.     Indians  do 
ut  it  was  ob- 
>  hunter  ever 

ly  honest  per- 
.  those.  They 
id   then  they 


it  may  seem 
le  severity  in 
5  dare  imitate 


I  ;  Hi' 


tl  i 


;  1 


* 


\  < 


A  Winter  Scene  in  the  Great  Lone  Land. 


.1 


"twi-""™ 


IN  THE  Grkat  Lone  Land 


i 

r 


■,t 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Home  Amusements  and  Studies — Happy  Days  at  Sagasta- 
wcekee — Stories  of  the  Early  Hunters — Methods  of  Hunting 
Before  the  Introduction  of  Firearms — Wolves  More  Dreaded 
Then — Story  of  Two  of  Kinesasis's  Children — Killed  by 
Wolves — Shakoona's  Sorrow — Saved  by  the  Caresses  of  Little 
Children. 

Sagasta-vveekee  was  at  all  times  a  cozy,  home- 
like place,  but  never  did  it  seem  more  inviting  and 
comfortable  than  when  blizzard  storms  roared  round 
it,  or  v.hen  fierce  snowstorms  seemed  to  make  their 
mightiest  efforts  to  see  if  they  could  not  bury  it  in 
their  enormous  drifts  of  whitest  snow.  These  ter- 
rific wintry  gales  sometimes  made  the  house  tremble 
on  its  foundations,  and  occasionally  so  shook  the 
building  that  pictures  hung  on  the  wall  would  swing, 
and  spoons  in  a  tumbler  on  the  mantelpiece  would 
perceptibly  jingle.  But,  in  spite  of  the  war  of  the 
elements  outside,  all  was  brightness  and  bliss  within. 
There  were  endless  resources  of  innocent  amusement 
or  work  for  all.  A  splendid,  useful  course  of  read- 
ings had  been  marked  out  for  the  boys,  and  Mr. 
Ross  saw  that  this,  as  well  as  the  books  prescribed 
by  their  teachers  at  home,  were  faithfully  read  and 
studied.  Then  the  rest  of  the  time  was  devoted  to 
recreation  and  work.  A  capital  workshop,  well  sup- 
plied with  tools,  including  a  complete  turning  lathe, 
as  well  as  fine  saws  for  delicate  fret\vork,  was  al- 
ways open  to  them,  and  in  it  many  a  pleasant  and 
useful  hour  was  spent. 

i8s 


I?'! 


h 

*!.';j 


I! 


i:: 


,  1 


I  I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Frank  excelled  as  the  mechanical  genius  of  the 
trio,  and  so  generally  to  hirr  was  assigned  the  work 
of  making  any  difficult  repairs  needed  on  the  dog- 
sleds  or  harness,  for  it  was  a  noint  of  honor  among 
the  boys  to  keep  their  own  outfits  in  perfect  condi- 
tion themselves. 

Sam  excelled,  as  might  have  been  expected  from 
his  nationality,  as  a  reader  and  reciter,  and  during 
the  long  evenings  added  much  to  the  profit  and 
diversion  of  the  household. 

Alec  had  a  sweet,  well-cultivated  voice  for  one  so 
young,  and  particularly  excelled  in  singing  the  sweet 
songs  and  ballads  of  old  Scotland.  Often  amidst 
the  hush  of  a  still,  quiet  night,  or  even  in  the  lulls 
between  the  roar  of  the  blizzard  or  tempest,  might 
have  been  heard  th.  sweet  notes  of  "Auld  Lang 
Syne,"  "Annie  Laurie,"  "Comin'  Through  the  Rye," 
"John  Anderson,  My  Jo,"  and  many  others  that 
brought  up  happy  memories  of  home,  and  touched 
for  good  all  listening  hearts.  Another  source  of 
interest  to  the  boys  was  for  Mr.  Ross  to  invite  in 
some  intelligent  old  Indian,  like  Memotas,  Big  Tom, 
Mustagan,  Kinesasis,  or  Paulette,  to  tell  some  re- 
markable incident  of  his  life,  either  as  a  hunter  or 
traveler.  Then,  as  there  were  living  at  the  village 
not  far  away  a  number  of  Indians  who  had  gone 
out  with  great  Arctic  adventurers  or  explorers,  and 
had  been  gone  for  years,  som**  of  them  had  very 
remarkable  stories  to  tell. 

As  Kinesasis  had  had  charge  of  the  dogs  during 

the  summer,  and  was  still  much  employed  by  Mr. 

Ross  on  various  jobs  about  the  place,  the  boys  be- 

i86 


t    : 


-  iMifjiiiiiTiJlitmiiMM 


)YS 

s  of  the 
the  work 
the  dog- 
r  among 
ct  condi- 

ted  from 
i  during 
•ofit  and 

)r  one  so 

he  sweet 

1  amidst 

the  lulls 

it,  might 

Id  Lang 

be  Rye," 

ers  that 

touched 

)urce  of 

nvite  in 

ig  Tom, 

ome  re- 

mter  or 

village 

d  gone 

rs,  and 

d  very 

during 
)y  Mr. 
)ys  be- 


I 


IN  THE  Grf  vt  Lone  Land 

came  very  well  acquainted  with  him.  He  was  a 
thorough  Indian  in  his  actions  and  modes  of 
thought,  and  only  saw  things  from  his  own  stand- 
point. He  was  very  observant,  and  had  been  quietly 
studying  these  three  young  "palefaces,"  whom  his 
master,  the  Ookemou,  Mr.  Ross,  had  brought  across 
the  great  sea.  At  first  their  active,  demonstrative 
ways,  so  different  from  the  quiet  and  taciturn  man- 
ners of  young  Indians,  tried  him  considerably.  Yet 
he  soon  became  accustomed  to  them.  Then  their 
grit  and  courage  and  perseverance  under  difficulties 
soon  won  his  admiration.  They  had  their  mishaps, 
and,  of  course,  in  their  endless  sports  and  adventures 
they  had  to  take  their  share  of  knocks,  but  under 
them  all  they  were  so  good-natured  and  resourceful, 
as  well  as  resolute  and  fearless,  that  the  old  Indian 
talked  much  about  them  among  his  own  people,  and 
said:  'Tt  was  no  wonder  that  the  palefaces  suc- 
ceeded, if  all  their  boys  were  like  these  three."  But 
what  completely  made  him  their  friend  was  Alec's 
terrible  adventure  with  the  wolves,  and  his  signal 
triumph  over  their  instinct  and  cunning  by  his  re- 
sourceful tact  and  splendid  endurance.  Poor  Kine- 
sasis  had  reason  to  rejoice  over  every  victory  ob- 
tained over  these  fierce  northern  wolves.  Some 
years  before  this  they  had  during  his  absence  broken 
into  his  wigwam  and  devoured  two  of  his  children. 
Some  time  later  Mr.  Ross  told  the  story  to  the  boys 
as  he  had  heard  it  from  Kinesasis  himself.  It  was 
as  follows: 

"It  was  long  ago,  before  the  white  traders  had 

sold  many  guns  to  the  Indians.    Then  the  game  was 

187 


\\']  • 

1 

'  iiMl 

1  ' 

.,.  i  t 


WiNTKR  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

very  much  more  plentiful  than  it  is  now  in  the  for- 
ests. The  wild  animals  were  then  also  very  much 
tamer.  The  how.  and  arrows  of  the  hunters  made 
but  little  no:se  in  comparison  with  the  loud  report 
of  the  gunpowder.  The  result  was  that  the  animals 
were  much  more  easily  approached." 

*Ts  it  true,  then,"  asked  Sam,  "that  the  young  ani- 
mals now,  that  have  not  as  yet  heard  the  firing  of  a 
gun,  are  wilder  than  the  young  ones  were  before 
gunpowder  came  into  use?" 

''Certainly,"  replied  Mr.  Ross.  "It  is  well  known 
by  those  who  have  studied  it  that  all  wild  animals, 
and  even  birds,  very  soon  become  wilder  and  more 
alert  and  watchful  after  the  introduction  of  gun- 
powder, and,  what  is  stranger,  they  seem  to  be  able 
to  impart  to  their  progeny  this  same  spirit  of  fear 
and  caution." 

'T  have  often  wondered,"  said  Frank,  "how  it  was 
that  the  Indians  were  able  to  kill  sufficient  game  to 
keep  themselves  alive  before  they  began  to  purchase 
gunpowder." 

"What  I  have  said  in  reply  to  Sam's  question 
partly  answers  yours,"  answered  Mr.  Ross.  "When 
a  boy  I  often  talked  with  old  hunters  who  for 
many  years  hunted  ere  they  fired  a  gun.  They 
killed  partridges  with  clubs,  or  with  a  noose  on  the 
end  of  a  pole,  as  some  of  them  can  do  yet,  as  has 
already  been  seen.  Then  they  had  no  difficulty  in 
crawling  up  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  deer  or 
beavers." 

"What  about  the  more  savage  animals,  such  as 

the  bears  and  w^olves  ?"  asked  Alec. 

i88 


;!' 


OYS 

I  the  for- 
ery  much 
ers  made 
id  report 
e  animals 

3iing  aui- 
ring  of  a 
:'e  before 

II  known 
animals, 

nd  more 
of  gun- 

3  be  able 
t  of  fear 

w  it  was 
game  to 
Hirchase 

:iuestion 
"When 
^ho  for 
They 
on  the 
as  has 
:ulty  in 
ieer  or 

>uch  as 


IN  TTTE  Great  Lone  LANt 

"As  regards  the  bears,  as  the  hides  of  the  old  fel- 
lows were  hard  to  pierce  with  arrows  sufficient  to 
give  a  mortal  wound,  the  Indians  depended  mostly 
on  the  hand-to-hand  conflict  with  the  knife  or  toma- 
hawk. With  the  wolves  it  was  different.  Before 
the  guns  were  introduced  the  Indians  dreaded  the 
encounters  with  the  wolves  more  than  any  other 
animals.  It  is  true  that  they  feared  the  fire  as  much 
then  as  now,  but  the  Indians  suffered  from  many 
disadvantages.  Steel  axes  were  but  few,  and  very 
expensive.  Now  armed  with  guns,  behind  a  good 
fire,  hunters  are  comparatively  safe.  Then  the 
wolves  patiently  waited  until  the  limited  wood  sup- 
ply was  exhausted,  and  then  closed  in  for  the  final 
struggle.  It  was  then  teeth  against  tomahawks,  and 
the  chances  were  more  in  favor  of  the  wolves  than 
now.  Solitary  hunters  or  single  families  caught  by 
a  pack  were  frequently  overpowered  and  devoured. 
Climbing  up  into  the  trees  afforded  a  temporary 
respite,  as  wolves  cannot,  like  bears,  there  follow 
their  victims.  But  the  wolves  were  persistent 
besiegers,  and  w^oe  to  the  unfortunate  hunter  who 
was  thus  treed  by  them  unless  help  was  near.  For 
days  they  would  keep  watch,  day  and  night,  until 
the  unfortunate  one,  chilled  and  benumbed  by  the 
bitter  cold,  fell  into  their  midst  and  was  speedily 
devoured.  In  those  days  the  wolves  were  much 
more  numerous  than  they  are  now,  and  more  cour- 
ageous in  their  attacks  on  the  wigwams  or  even 
small  settlements  of  the  Indians.  When  distempers 
cut  off  the  rabbits,  or  the  deer  were  scarce,  the 

wolves  were  very  audacious  in  their  attacks. 

189 


ff 


I  I 


■«h 


[  'V 


I  It 


« 

^ 
I 

1 

i 

1 

1 

li 

It 

1 

1 

;i  ■ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

"It  was  one  winter  when  the  cold  was  terrible  and 
the  snow  unusually  deep  that  the  sad  tragedy  came 
to  the  wigwam  of  Kinesasis.  The  reindeer  had  not 
come  down  from  the  barren  plains  as  usual  that  win- 
ter, and  the  other  animals  generally  hunted  by  the 
wolves  were  few  and  far  between.  Some  of  the 
Indian  hunters  had  had  some  very  narrow  escapes, 
and  the  result  was  that  very  seldom  did  anyone  ven- 
ture far  alone  into  his  hunting  grounds.  Kinesasis 
was  always  a  man  of  great  courage  and  strength. 
He  laughed  at  the  caution  of  the  others,  and  boldly 
pushed  on  to  his  distant  hunting  grounds  whenever 
he  saw  a  prospect  of  success.  His  wigwam,  in 
which  he  left  Shakoona  and  the  two  little  ones  dur- 
ing his  absence,  was  made  as  warm  and  comfortable 
as  such  a  habitation  can  be.  It  was  arranged  with 
the  best  of  birch  bark,  and  around  outside,  up  to 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  top,  Kinesasis  piled  the  dry 
moss  of  that  country,  which  grows  there  so  plenti- 
fully. He  cut  abundance  of  wood,  and  left  plenty 
of  frozen  meat  and  fish  on  the  high  staging  outside. 
The  only  drawback  was  that  the  wigwam  was  situ- 
ated on  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  close  to  the  dark 
forest.  Once  a  day,  when  the  ice  would  be  cut  by 
the  men  of  the  village,  Shakoona  would  take  her 
buckets,  made  of  the  skin  of  the  sturgeon,  and  go  to 
the  lake  for  her  supply  of  water.  It  di  1  not  take  her 
very  long  to  make  the  trip,  and  she  loitered  not  on 
the  way,  as  she  generally  had  to  leave  her  two  little 
ones  alone.  However,  as  the  little  girl  was  eight 
years   of   age   and    her   brother   only   two    years 

younger,  the  mother  knew  they  were  quite  able  to 

190 


1 1 


I 


.wiWrnnrii 


OYS 

rrible  and 
edy  came 
r  had  not 
that  win- 
id  by  the 
le  of  the 
escapes, 
^one  ven- 
Cinesasis 
strength, 
id  boldly 
whenever 
warn,   in 
nes  dur- 
ifortable 
red  with 
e,  up  to 
the  dry 
plenti- 
t  plenty 
outside, 
as  situ- 
le  dark 
cut  by 
ke  her 
go  to 
ike  her 
not  on 
0  little 
eight 
years 
ble  to 


:1 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

take  care  of  themselves  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances during  her  brief  absence  from  them. 

"One  day,  however,  when  she  returned  she  was 
horrified  beyond  all  expression  to  find  that  a  couple 
of  great  wolves  had  noiselessly  crawled  in  from  the 
forest  and  were  greedily  devouring  her  children. 
With  a  scream,  but  not  with  a  faint,  she  threw  one 
of  the  leather  buckets  of  water  on  the  smouldering 
fire  which  burned  on  the  ground  in  the  center  of  the 
wigwam.  Then  she  instantly  seized  an  ax,  which 
fortunately  was  near  the  door  by  which  she  had 
entered.  The  clouds  of  steam  which  tilled  the  wig- 
wam quite  disconcerted  the  wolves.  When  she  had 
entered  they  had  at  once  begun  to  growl  more 
savagely,  and  seemed  as  though  they  would  spring 
at  her.  The  clouds  of  hot  steam  at  once  stopped 
their  snarling,  as  well  as  their  tearing  at  the  bodies 
of  the  children,  and  before  they  could  do  any  further 
injury  Shakoona  with  one  blow  cut  through  the 
backbone  of  one,  severing  the  spinal  cord,  thus  ren- 
dering him  powerless  to  move.  The  other  one 
sprang  at  her  ere  she  could  disengage  the  ax  for 
another  blow.  The  wolf's  object  had  been  to  catch 
her  by  the  throat,  but  she  had  quickly  thrown  up  her 
arm  as  a  guard,  and  into  it  the  cruel  brute  sank  his 
great  yellow  fangs. 

"Shakoona  was  in  a  terrible  position  now,  but  her 

presence  of  mind  did  not  desert  her,  and  so  she 

quickly  backed  around  the  fire  in  such  a  way  that 

before  the  wolf  realized  his  position  his  hind  feet 

were  in  the  still  red-hot  embers  of  the  fire.    With  a 

howl  of  pain  he  let  go  his  grip  on  her  arm  and  made 

191 


n 


u 


n^ 


\^ 


m 


1  Oi: 


f 


Winter  Aovknturks  of  Tfirkk  Roys 

for  the  (Inor.  whicli  was  of  niooseskin,  and  which 
like  a  curtain  had  dropped  hack  into  place. 

**ln  the  meantime  Shakoona's  screams  had  hecn 
heard,  and  IncHans  from  other  wigwams  speedily 
rushed  to  her  lielp.  Little  did  they  realize,  as  they 
were  coming,  her  sad  hereavement.  The  first  one  to 
attempt  to  enter  was  an  Indian  woman.  Just  as  she 
was  entering  the  wolf  with  scorched  feet  was  rush- 
ing out.  The  ct)llision,  as  they  met,  knocked  the 
woman  over,  and  so  delayed  the  wolf  for  a  second  or 
two  that  the  next  comer,  who  happened  to  he  a  stal- 
wart hunter,  was  al)le  to  draw  his  tomahawk,  and 
with  one  strong  hlow  drove  the  keen  edge  of  his 
weapon  into  the  animal's  hrain.  When  these  two 
Indians  and  others  who  had  quickly  joined  them 
had  entered  the  wigwam  they  saw  a  terrible  sight — 
two  children  half  devoured  and  a  mother  so  over- 
whelmed with  sorrow  that  not  a  tear  would  come 
from  those  great  sad  eyes.  Then  there  was  the  wolf 
with  severed  spine,  but  still  alive  and  looking  more 
fiendish  than  ever.  Very  soon  was  the  savage  brute 
dispatched  and  his  body  thrown  out  of  the  wigwam. 

"Loving  hands  quickly  arranged  and  covered  up 
what  was  left  of  the  two  children,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  comfort  the  poor  mother  in  her  terrible  sor- 
row. Swift  runners  were  sent  away  to  Kinesasis, 
to  tell  him  of  his  great  loss  and  to  bring  him  home, 
as  many  feared  if  his  wife  did  not  soon  begin  to 
weep  she  would  die.  When  Kinesasis  heard  the 
news  he  too  was  nearly  heart-broken,  but  when  he 
reached    his    wigwam    and    beheld    Shakoona    he 

crushed  down  his  own  sorrow  to  try  and  comfort 

192 


s  Boys 

I.  and  which 
ce. 

lis  liad  hccii 
ims  speedily 
hze,  as  they 
?  first  one  to 
Just  as  she 
't  was  rush- 
cnocked  the 
a  second  or 
to  be  a  stal- 
^hawk,  and 
^^\gG  of  his 
I  these  two 
Jined  them 
hie  sight — 
sr  so  over- 
oiild  come 
IS  the  wolf 
king  more 
age  brute 
wigwam. 
Dvered  up 
brts  were 
rible  sor- 
■Cinesasis, 
m  home, 
begin  to 
eard  the 
when  he 
:)ona    he 
comfort 


I 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

her  who  had,  on  account  of  tlic  way  the  great  be- 
reavement had  come  to  her,  suffered  much  more 
than  he.  For  days  and  days  Shakoona  was  as  one 
in  a  dream.  She  was  gentle  as  usual,  but  those  great 
eyes,  so  sad  and  dry,  seemed  to  haunt  all  who  visited 
her.  All  said  she  soon  would  die  unless  she  got  re- 
lief. They  tried  many  ways,  but  all  in  vain,  until  at 
length  a  kindly  Indian  woman  went  out  and  brought 
in  the  boys  and  girls  with  whom  her  little  ones  used 
to  play.  At  first  Shakoona  seemed  pained  by  their 
presence,  but  as  they  looked  into  those  sad  eyes  they 
began  weeping,  and,  childlike,  they  threw  their  arms 
around  her  and  wept.  Passively  at  first  she  received 
these  fondlings,  but  soon  the  children's  caresses 
broke  down  the  barriers  and  the  hot  tears  began  to 
flow,  and  the  woman  was  saved  from  death  or  in- 
sanity. But  her  hair  turned  white  shortly  afterward, 
and  she  has  ever  since  been  that  sad  little  woman 
that  you  have  seen  her.  Kinesasis  has  never  been 
cruel  to  her,  as,  alas !  too  many  of  the  pagan  Indian 
husbands  are  to  their  wives." 
13  193 


lit 

1 

m 

\ 

1 

' 

'!        1 

! 


n 


'II 


' 


T 

i,|; 

1 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


CHAPTER  XV. 
The  Beavers,  and  Something  About  Them — Two  Hunters  at 
Sagasta-weekee — A  General  Invitatioi  to  a  Beaver  Hunt  Ac- 
cepted— The  Preparations — The  Trip — Dog-traveling  in  the 
Woods— Saucy  Wild  Animals — The  Wolf's  Cove — The  Boys' 
Plunge  in  the  Snowdrift — The  Rescue. 

The  beaver  is  a  very  interesting  animal.  In  the 
previous  summer  the  boys  had  been  fortunate 
enough  to  see  a  colony  of  beavers  at  work  during 
a  beautiful  moonlight  night.  They  had  also  sub- 
sequently examined  the  wonderful  dam  these  in- 
dustrious, ingenious  creatures  had  made,  and  were 
much  amazed  and  surprised  not  only  at  its  size,  but 
also  at  the  clever  way  in  which  every  part  of  it  was 
constructed  to  meet  any  emergency  that  might  occur 
by  flood  or  freshet. 

They  also  noticed  that  the  Indians  did  very  little 
hunting  of  the  beaver,  or,  indeed,  of  any  of  the  rich 
fur-bearing  animals  during  the  summer  months. 
Now,  however,  that  the  winter  had  come  they  were 
all  alert  and  active,  and  as  soon  as  their  fall  fisheries 
were  completed  they  began  making  preparations  for 
the  winter  harvest  of  furs.  On  their  success  in  a 
great  measure  depended  the  happiness  and  comfort 
of  themselves  and  their  families.  They  lived  too 
far  north  to  cultivate  the  land  with  any  degree  of 
success,  and  hence  it  was  only  by  the  sale  of  their 
furs  that  they  were  able  to  buy  the  essential  neces- 
saries for  their  simple  lives. 

The  fur  is  only  considered  prime  in  the  winter 

194 


E  Boys 


Two  Hunters  at 
;aver  Hunt  Ac- 
raveling  in  the 
ove — The  Boys' 

imal.  In  the 
2n  fortunate 
work  during 
lad  also  sub- 
im  these  in- 
de,  and  were 
t  its  size,  but 
•art  of  it  was 
might  occur 

id  very  Httle 
of  the  rich 
er  months, 
e  they  were 
fall  fisheries 
arations  for 
success  in  a 
ind  comfort 
|y  lived  too 
degree  of 
jale  of  their 
Intial  neces- 

the  winter 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

months.  That  killed  in  summer  is  thin  and  poor, 
and  for  it  the  hunters  receive  but  a  low  price.  But 
when  the  cold  weather  sets  in  the  fur  becomes  thick 
and  valuable.  Then  the  hunters  leave  their  homes 
and  go  to  the  distant  hunting  grounds,  often  hun- 
dreds of  miles  away.  Many  are  their  hardships  and 
privations.  They  take  but  little  food  with  them,  and 
so  have  to  depend  on  what  thev  can  hunt  or  shoot. 
In  some  regions  where  the  fi  'aring  animals  are 
fairly  numerous  those  that  arc  good  for  food  are 
very  few.  The  result  sometimes  is  that  Indians 
doing  well  in  getting  the  rich  furs  of  the  black  and 
silver  foxes,  otters,  minks,  and  martens,  and  some 
other  fur-bearing  animals,  are  nearly  starving  most 
of  the  time.  On  the  other  hand,  those  who  succeed 
in  capturing  abundance  of  beavers,  wild  cats,  musk- 
rats,  and  bears,  live  very  well,  as  all  of  these  animals 
are  eaten  by  the  natives,  although  their  furs  do  not 
bring  as  high  a  price  as  the  others. 

The  discovery  of  a  large  beaver  house  is  a  great 
piece  of  good  luck  to  an  Indian  hunter.  Sometimes, 
when  the  house  is  a  small  one,  a  hunter  will  with  his 
ax  only  put  his  mark  of  ownership  on  a  tree  near  by, 
then  leave  it  undisturbed.  Scores  of  hunters  may 
happen  to  come  along,  but  when  they  see  that  mark 
they  never  think  of  trying  to  get  those  beavers.  It 
may  be  that  the  owner  will  mark  it  the  second  year, 
and  again  leave  it  for  the  beaver  to  multiply  the 
third  time.  Each  year  the  beavers  are  undisturbed 
they  take  down  and  enlarge  their  house,  until,  if 
thus  left  for  years,  and  the  dam  keeps  good  and  the 

water  supply  sufficient,  they  will  continue  extend- 

195 


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Ill:  - 

II 

ill 

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i 

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,'        i 

i 

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.  '1 

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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

ing  their  habitation  until  it  is  as  large  as  a  good-sized 
haystack. 

There  came  one  day  to  Sagasta-weekee,  on  a  visit, 
a  couple  of  clever  Indian  hunters  who  were  great 
friends  of  Mr.  Ross.  Among  other  things  they  told 
him  was  that  two  nights  away  they  had  a  large 
beaver  house  which  they  had  preserved  for  three 
years,  and  that  they  were  soon  going  to  take  out  the 
beavers.  This  was  just  the  news  Mr.  Ross  wanted 
to  hear,  as  he  had  often  talked  with  the  boys  about 
these  wonderful  animals,  and  was  anxious  that  they 
should  see  how  the  cleverness  of  the  hunters  out- 
matched all  the  skill  and  sagacity  of  the  beavers. 

Then,  as  it  was  about  a  hundred  miles  away,  it 
would  be  a  capital  winter's  trip  and  give  them  some 
idea  of  the  Indian  hunter's  life.  They  would  have 
to  camp  out  in  the  wintry  forest,  and  would  thus 
find  the  difference  between  sleeping  in  the  summer, 
with  the  temperature  up  to  eighty,  and  sleeping  in 
the  wintry  cold,  with  the  spirit  thermometer  perhaps 
indicating  fifty  below  zero. 

When  the  boys  heard  of  the  promised  trip  they 

were  wild  with  excitement.     As  much  preparation 

had  to  be  made,  the  day  selected  to  start  was  about 

a  week  after  the  visit  of  the  two  Indians.     It  was 

indeed  a  busy  week.    Each  of  the  three  boys  was  to 

take  his  dog-train.    They  would  be  expected  to  take 

on  their  own  sleds  their  beds,  clothing,  and  part  of 

the  supplies.     Snowshoes  were  made  for  them,  and 

every  day  they  diligently  practiced  this  new  method 

of  locomotion.     They  had  many  amusing  tumbles. 

Sometimes,  where  the  snowdrifts  were  deep,  when 

196 


?t  ^ 


lijangeii.i  ,1    11 


E  Boys 
a  good-sized 

ee,  on  a  visit, 

)  were  great 

ngs  they  told 

had  a  large 

ed  for  three 

take  out  the 

Ross  wanted 

e  boys  about 

)us  that  they 

hunters  out- 

i  beavers. 

iles  away,  it 

e  them  some 

would  have 

would  thus 

he  summer, 

sleeping  in 

eter  perhaps 

k\  trip  they 
preparation 
t  was  about 
ns.  It  was 
3oys  was  to 
cted  to  take 
and  part  of 
them,  and 
lew  method 
ig  tumbles, 
deep,  when 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

they  attempted  to  pass  over  they  somehow  or  other 
would  get  the  snowshoes  so  tangled  up  that  over 
they  would  go  on  their  heads.  The  more  they 
struggled  the  deeper  they  sank  in  the  light,  fleecy 
snow,  until  it  seemed  as  though  nothing  was  visible 
but  a  pair  of  snowshoes  wildly  wabbling  about. 
Then  the  experienced  Indian  who  always  accom- 
panied them  would  come  to  the  rescue.  Gliding  up 
gracefully  on  his  own  snowshoes  to  the  struggling 
lad,  he  would  reach  down  and,  seizing  him  under  the 
arms,  would  quickly  lift  him  up  and  once  more  place 
him  on  his  feet  amidst  the  laughter  of  the  others. 
Thus  they  practiced  and  fell,  tried  again  and  again, 
until  the  knack  was  accomplished  and  they  could  get 
along  very  nicely. 

In  the  meantime  diligent  preparations  were  being 
made  indoors  for  this  excursion  to  the  home  of 
the  beavers.  Abundance  of  fat  food  was  cooked. 
Dogshoes  were  manufactured,  as  well  as  large 
moccasins  for  the  travelers. 

In  due  time  the  start  was  made.  It  was  to  the 
boys  a  most  unique  and  novel  affair.  First  ran  the 
guide,  a  stalwart  Indian,  who  could  easily  keep 
ahead  of  the  fastest  train.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
guide,  by  running  on  in  front,  to  indicate  the  best 
route.  He  must  never  make  a  track  where  it  is  not 
safe  for  the  dogs  with  the  heavy  sleds  to  follow.  If 
he  finds  a  great  fallen  tree  in  the  way  it  is  his  duty, 
not  to  jump  over  the  trunk  and  push  on,  but  to  circle 
around  it  where  the  party  following  can  easily  ad- 
vance.    In  rocky  places  he  must  ever  have  in  mind 

the  loaded  sleds  following,  and  walk  or  run  where 

197 


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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

there  is  an  available  trail.  He  must  never  go  be- 
tween two  trees  growing  so  closely  together  that 
there  will  be  any  difficulty  for  the  widest  sled  fol- 
lowing to  pass  between  them.  He  is  supposed  to 
know  the  strength  or  weakness  of  the  weakest  train 
or  runner,  and  so  must  decide  on  each  resting  as  well 
as  camping  place.  In  his  footsteps  all  are  to  im- 
plicitly follow,  and  so  his  position  is  one  of  great 
responsibility.  As  a  natural  result,  he  is  supposed 
to  receive  much  higher  pay  than  the  ordinary  dog- 
driver,  who  has  not  much  care  beyond  that  of  his 
own  dog-train. 

This  being  the  first  trip  made  in  this  direction  this 
season,  there  was  not  the  least  vestige  of  a  road  or 
trail.  Tornado  blasts  had  swept  through  the  forests 
which  abounded  most  of  the  way.  The  result  was 
that  fallen  trees  were  very  numerous.  Some  of  them 
were  so  tangled  together  that  it  was  at  times  easier 
to  cut  through  than  make  the  long  detour  to  get 
around  them.  Knowing  this,  the  guide  carried  with 
him  an  ax  instead  of  a  gun. 

An  old,  experienced,  powerful  tra.n  of  dogs  went 
first.  The  sagacious  leader  never  swerved  from  the 
tracks  of  the  guide.  No  matter  how  winding  or  dif- 
ficult the  trail,  he  never  wandered  from  it.  Some- 
times he  could  see  the  guide  straight  ahead,  while 
the  path  seemed  to  veer  at  right  angles.  While  the 
sight  of  the  guide  ahead  might  stimulate  him  to 
greater  effort  and  speed,  still  he  knew  his  duty  was 
to  keep  in  the  well-defined  track.  A  straight  cut  to 
the  guide  might  run  him  into  a  dangerous  gully  or 

over  a  steep  precipice.     So,  knowing  his  duty,  per- 

198 


-tfifmmrmmmvsm 


Boys 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ver  go  bp- 
rether  that 
5t  sled  fol- 
ipposed  to 
akest  train 
ing  as  well 
are  to  im- 
e  of  great 
5  supposed 
inary  dog- 
hat  of  his 

ection  this 
a  road  or 
:he  forests 
'esult  was 
le  of  them 
nes  easier 
Lir  to  get 
Tied  with 

logs  went 
I  from  the 
IS  or  dif- 
Some- 
Id,  while 
'hile  the 
him  to 
|uty  was 
(t  cut  to 
;"ully  or 
|ty,  per- 


haps taught  it  by  bitter  experience — and  dogs  have 
good  memories — he  tried  his  best  in  his  doglike  way 
to  do  his  duty. 

Mr.  Ross's  train  followed  next.  They  were  jet- 
black  in  color,  and  were  large,  magnificent  dogs. 
They  were  so  trained  that  they  as  readily  responded 
to  his  calls  s  a  good  horse  does  to  the  pulling  of  the 
reins. 

Then  following  came  the  boys  with  their  three 
trains.  Frank,  having  the  largest  dogs,  had  the 
lead.  Sam  came  next,  and  then  Alec  w'ith  the  light- 
est but  by  far  the  fleetest  train  in  the  whole  party. 
Behind  was  another  sled  of  Mr.  Ross's  with  more 
supplies,  and  then,  bringing  up  the  rear,  was  a  sled 
belonging  to  the  two  Indians  who  owned  the  beaver 
house.  While  one  of  them  drove  the  train  the  other, 
on  account  of  the  many  fallen  trees  in  the  way  that 
had  to  be  cut  out,  was  on  ahead  with  Memotas,  the 
guide. 

As  they  thus  set  off  they  made  quite  a  display. 
The  boys  were  simply  wild  with  the  excitement  of 
the  hour.  They  looked  very  picturesque  in  their 
handsome  outfits.  Their  deerskin  suits,  over  the 
warmest  of  flannel  underclothing,  were  very  beauti- 
ful, as  they  were  made  under  Mrs.  Ross's  direction 
by  the  most  clever  Indian  n^omen.  They  were  beau- 
tifully adorned  with  bead  and  silkwork  and  trimmed 
w'th  fur.  Their  overcoats,  as  before  stated,  were 
made  of  the  heavy  white  blankets  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company.  These  blankets  are  very  warm  and 
firm,  as  they  are  especially  made  for  that  cold  coun- 
try.   The  caps  and  mittens  were  of  the  finest  fur. 

199 


1 


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M 


1 


t   I 


■ 


i        ■.! 


r  i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Their  moccasins  were  extra  large,  to  allow  for  the 
additional  wrapping-  of  duffel  required  over  the 
warm  woolen  hose.  They  also  had  warm  leggings 
of  strouds,  beautifully  fringed  and  fastened  with 
strong  garters  artistically  worked  with  porcupine 
quills.  A  warm,  well-lined  hood  or  capote  was  at- 
tached to  each  overcoat.  This  the  boys  found  of 
very  great  service  and  comfort,  especially  when  their 
unexperienced  sleigh  dogs  were  unable  to  keep  the 
heads  of  their  sleds,  at  times,  from  striking  against 
some  snow-laden  tree  with  such  force  that  the  snow 
in  great  quantities  came  tumbling  about  them.  But 
for  these  capotes  much  of  the  snow  would  have 
found  its  way  into  their  faces  and  down  under  the 
collars  of  their  coats. 

To  be  like  the  rest  of  the  party,  the  lads  were  each 
the  possessor  of  a  fine  dog-whip.  Of  course,  they 
were  not  so  long  and  heavy  as  those  ordinarily  used, 
but  they  could  when  well  handled  make  a  pistollike 
crack,  and  for  this  purpose  only  were  they  used. 

The  first  few  miles  of  the  route  were  on  the  ice 
over  places  well  known  to  all,  as  in  their  frequent 
outings  they  had  gone  in  this  direction.  It  was  well 
known  to  Alec,  for  it  was  along  this  very  way  that 
he  had  skated  so  rapidly  after  leaving  the  river,  with 
the  howling  wolves  behind  him. 

On  and  on  they  pushed  to  the  extreme  end  of  the 
lake,  for  they  wished  to  avail  themselves  of  as  much 
of  the  ice  route  as  possible,  as  it  is  so  much  easier 
traveling  on  the  ice  than  in  the  forest,  where  there 
is  no  trail. 

When  the  sleds  reached  the  spot  where  they  were 

200 


i 


YS 


IN  TiiK  Grkat  Lone  Land 


for  the 
ver  the 
eggings 
ed  with 
)rcupine 
was  at- 
nmd  of 
en  their 
:eep  the 
against 
le  snow 
n.  But 
id  have 
ider  the 

ire  each 
5e,  they 
y  used, 
stolHke 
2d. 

the  ice 
equent 
as  well 
ly  that 
■,  with 

lof  the 
much 

(easier 
there 

were 


to  enter  the  forest  they  found  that  the  guide  and  his 
Indian  comrade  had  cut  down  some  dry  trees  and 
made  up  a  splendid  fire.  No  sooner  had  the  trains 
ai  rived  than  some  of  the  sleds  were  hastily  untied, 
the  deerskin  wrappings  which  were  on  all  were 
opened,  and  a  couple  of  large  kettles  were  speedily 
filled  with  the  clear,  light  snow  and  placed  on  the 
roaring  fire.  So  light  and  feathery  is  the  snow  that 
the  kettles  have  to  be  filled  and  refilled  a  good  many 
times  ere  sufficient  is  put  in  to  make  them  full  of 
water.  Then  the  provision  bags  were  opened,  and 
abundance  of  food  was  taken  out  for  all. 

One  of  the  Indians  who  was  skillful  at  this  kind 
of  work  was  detailed  as  special  cook  and  general 
waiter  for  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys.  Very  quickly  he 
had  ready  the  dinner  of  the  good  things  Mrs.  Ross 
had  prepared  for  them.  The  boys  were  surprised 
at  the  quantity  of  the  fat  food  that  was  placed  before 
them,  and  were  almost  ashamed  of  the  vigor  and 
capacity  of  their  appetites.  Nature,  true  to  her  in- 
stincts, puts  in  the  craving  for  the  kind  of  food  most 
essential  for  people  in  different  parts  of  the  world. 

About  an  hour  was  allowed  for  the  dinner  halt, 
and  then  the  journey  was  resumed.  There  were  the 
usual  mishaps  that  necessarily  belonged  to  this  mode 
of  travel.  Sleds  were  occasionally  upset,  and  if  at 
the  time  anyone  happened  to  be  riding  he  was  buried 
in  the  snow,  from  which  he  emerged  none  the  worse 
for  the  plunge,  but  generally  amidst  the  laughter 
of  those  more  fortunate.  Several  times  a  fox  or 
some  other  animal  ran  across  the  trail,  and  then  it 
required  some  effort  and  sternness  to  control  the 

201 


if" 


n 


kill 


f'.iij 


ij 


ifi 


"1"  ■ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

(logs  and  prevent  them  from  starting  off  after  these 
animals,  which  are  their  natural  foes.  The  older 
dogs  had  learned  somewhat  hy  experience  the  folly 
of  trying  while  thus  harnessed  to  heavy  sleds  to 
capture  wild  foxes,  and  so  merely  confined  their 
efforts  to  loud  harkings  and  a  little  more  vigorous 
tugging  at  their  traces.  The  younger  and  less  dis- 
ciplined trains,  however,  with  less  discretion  and 
more  zeal,  at  once  dashed  away  from  the  beaten 
trail  made  by  the  trains  ahead  of  them,  and  reck- 
lessly plunged  into  the  forest  after  the  game. 

"Who  would  imagine,"  said  Frank,  "that  dogs  so 
heavily  loaded  could  thus  fairly  fly  over  the  snow- 
covered  logs  and  rocks  and  among  the  trees  at  such 
a  rate?" 

They  learned  then,  and  in  many  an  experience 
afterward,  of  the  latent  strength  there  is  in  an  ap- 
parently w-earied  dog.  Only  give  him  the  stimulus 
to  develop  it,  and  it  is  simply  surprising  to  all  who 
witness  it. 

Alec's  fleet  train  was  the  most  excited  and  intract- 
able. Bruce  could  not  stand  the  sight  of  a  saucy 
fox  or  a  snarling  wild  cat  passing  across  the  trail, 
only  a  few  hundred  feet  ahead  of  him,  with  any 
degree  of  equanimity.  After  him  he  must  and  would 
go,  in  spite  of  Alec's  hardest  efforts  to  keep  him  in 
the  trail.  Bruce,  w^ith  the  other  three  dogs,  about  as 
eager  as  himself,  would  often  leave  the  track  and 
wath  a  spurt  get  off  several  hundred  yards  in  the 
w^oods  before  he  could  be  stopped.  Sometimes 
their  stopping  would  be  rather  abrupt.  Generally 
the  trees  were  so  close  together  that  it  was  not  long 

202 


II 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

ere  the  head  of  the  sled  came  in  violent  collision  with 
a  great  one.  This,  of  course,  stopped  them  most 
effectually.  At  other  times,  while  Bruce,  the  leader, 
decided  to  take  one  side  of  a  small  tree,  the  dog 
r  ext  to  him  took  the  other  side.  This  divergency  of 
views  on  the  part  of  the  dogs  also  quickly  put  an  end 
to  their  advance. 

Alec,  in  his  determined  efforts  to  arrest  their 
progress  at  these  times,  did  not  always  escape  un- 
scathed. When  in  a  had  forest  where  the  snow  was 
deep  he  often  would  stumhle  and  fall,  and  before  he 
could  regain  his  feet  had  acted  the  part  of  a  snow- 
plow  as  he  was  rapidly  dragged  along.  He  received 
some  painful  bruises,  but  he  pluckily  kept  to  his 
work,  and  so  had  his  dogs  in  fairly  good  submission 
before  many  such  trips  were  made. 

A  laughable  but  fortunately  not  dangerous  ad- 
venture happened  to  the  boys  and  their  trains  at  a 
place  called  by  the  Indians  the  Wolf's  Cove,  on  ac- 
count of  the  many  wolves  that  formerly  infested  the 
place.  There  it  was  necessary  to  cross  a  very  deep 
valley,  or  ravine.  The  hillsides  were  very  steep  and 
slippery  under  the  heavy  snowfall.  As  the  dog- 
sleds  have  no  brakes  upon  them,  the  only  way  of 
arresting  their  speedy  motion  when  going  down  a 
steep  hill  is  for  the  driver  to  hold  back  the  sled  by 
the  strong  rope  which  is  always  attached  to  the  rear 
end  and  is  called  the  tail  rope. 

If  the  hill  is  steep  or  slippery,  and  the  load  heavy, 

this  Is  a  difficult  operation  and  requires  much  care. 

Owing  to  the  way  in  which  the  dogs  are  attached 

to  the  sleds,  the  drivers  are  utterly  powerless  to  ren- 

203 


h 


VI 


\-    n' 


;■  Im 


!^i 


Il  ' 


Winter  Adventurks  ok  Three  Boys 

der  any  assistance  in  arresting  the  progress  of  the 
sled. 

When  the  sleds  reached  the  ravine  there  was  a 
short  halt  ere  the  first  descent  was  made. 

The  old,  experienced  Indian  drivers  were  of  the 
opinion  that  tlie  boys  were  not  strong  or  heavy 
enough  on  their  nioccasined  feet  to  hold  back  their 
sleds,  and  suggested  that,  after  they  themselves  had 
gone  down  with  the  loads,  they  return  and  take 
charge  of  the  trains  of  the  boys.  This  help,  kindly 
offered,  was  rejected  by  the  lads,  who,  ha\'ing  man- 
aged fairly  well  thus  far,  except  where  the  passing 
game  bothered  them,  were  anxious  to  try  this  new 
experiment. 

Mr.  Ross  at  first  was  also  a  little  dubious  about  it, 
but  youthful  enthusiasm  and  love  of  new  adventures 
conquered.  While  the  first  sleds  were  descending 
the  boys  and  the  rest  of  the  party  not  immediately 
occupied  watched  the  operation  with  a  good  deal  of 
interest. 

"Faith,"  said  vSam,  "it's  as  easy  as  sliding  down 
the  banisters." 

"The  hill  seems  greased  for  the  occasion,"  said 
Frank,  as  he  noticed  the  ease  and  rapidity  with 
which  the  sleds  slid  down  in  spite  of  the  grip  and 
strong  holdback  of  the  heavy,  experienced  Indian 
drivers. 

"Plenty  of  snow  to  tumble  into,"  said  Alec,  who 
could  not  forget  the  way  he  had  plowed  through  it 
when  his  dogs  ran  away  with  him  as  they  attempted 
to  catch  the  wild  cat. 

Fortunately  or  unfortunately  for  the  boys,  there 

204 


M  I  I, 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

had  been  a  j^ood  deal  of  wind  in  this  part  of  the 
country  since  the  last  snowfall,  and  so  now  there 
was  a  large  drift  of  perhaps  twenty  feet  that  had 
hecn  hlown  into  the  bottom  of  the  lirst  steep  hill. 
The  guides  with  some  help  had  in  the  route  through 
this  deep  snow  gone  backward  and  forward  a  few 
times  on  their  heavy  snowshoes,  and  had  packed 
down  a  trail  sufficiently  hard  for  the  dogs  and  sleds. 
All  the  heavy  sleds  with  their  drivers  went  on  ahead 
of  the  boys.  Thus  they,  coming  last,  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  packing  of  the  snow. 

Sam,  jolly  and  reckless,  was  the  first  of  the  boys 
to  make  the  descent,  while  the  others  followed 
closely  behind,  Frank  being  next  to  him,  and  Alec 
bringing  up  the  rear. 

For  a  time  Sam  succeeded  very  well  in  imitating 
the  experienced  drivers.  He  kept  his  feet  well  and 
firmly  planted  on  the  snowy  surface,  and  held  back 
his  sled  in  fine  style.  The  other  boys  also  succeeded 
in  starting  well  on  the  trail.  They  had  not  gone 
very  far,  however,  before  a  small  gray  wolf,  that 
had  been  hidden  in  one  of  the  denlike  recesses  in  the 
rocks,  now  thoroughly  alarmed  by  the  dingling  of 
so  many  bells  and  the  sounds  of  so  many  voices,  sud- 
denly sprang  from  his  retreat,  which  was  in  the 
cliffs  on  the  other  side  beyond  the  guide.  Plunging 
into  the  deep  snow,  he  made  the  most  desperate 
efforts  to  escape  by  retreating  up  the  distant  hill- 
side in  front  of  the  whole  party.  Fierce  fires  had 
raged  through  these  woods  a  year  so  so  before, 
nearly  destroying  the  whole  of  the  timber.     The 

result  was  that  the  country  was  now  here  quite  open, 

205 


^ 


I  m 


^Vi 


%■ 


v4 


^11 


II 


:i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

and  objects  as  larj^c  as  a  wolf  could  he  seen  for 
a  lon^  distance.  I'>om  their  hij^hcr  position  the 
hoys  and  their  dogs  could  much  more  distinctly  see 
the  wolf  on  the  opposite  hillside  than  could  the  rest 
of  the  party,  who,  having  safely  made  the  descent, 
were  now  on  the  beginning  of  the  rise  on  the  other 
side,  awaiting  the  coming  of  the  hoys.  They  did 
not  have  long  to  wait.  The  sight  of  that  wolf,  so 
clearly  seen  in  the  bright  sunshine  of  that  wintry 
day  on  the  snowy  hillside,  was  too  much  for  their 
brief  discipline.  Spitfire  could  not  stand  it.  With  a 
howl  he  was  off,  and  well  seconded  were  his  efforts 
by  the  dogs  he  was  leading.  Sam  was  instantly 
jerked  off  his  feet,  but  he  pluckily  held  on  to  the 
tail  rope  of  his  sled.  Well  was  it  for  him  that  his 
pants  were  made  of  mooseskin,  for  they  had  a  good 
testing  of  their  qualities  now%  as  rapidly  on  them  he 
was  now  tobogganing  down  that  steep,  slippery 
liillside. 

Behind  him  came  the  other  dog-trains.  Of  them 
the  boys  had  also  lost  control.  Such  was  the  steep- 
ness of  the  hill  that  soon  the  momentum  obtained  by 
the  sleds  caused  them  to  go  faster  than  the  dogs 
could  run.  Here  was  the  real  danger.  When  Frank 
and  Alec  saw  how  it  was  faring  with  Sam,  and  were 
also  quick  to  observe  that  with  that  wolf  so  plainly 
visible  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  them  on  a 
downhill,  slippery  grade  to  control  their  now  ex- 
cited dogs,  they,  boylike,  took  the  risks,  and  at  once 
threw  themselves  upon  their  sleds  and  hung  on  to 
the  deerskin  thongs  with  which  the  loads  were 

securely  tied. 

206 


^ 


IN  THE  Great  Lunk  Land 

**Hurrah  for  somewhere!"  shouted  Alec. 

"Clear  the  track!"  was  !•' rank's  hurried  shout  to 
Sam,  whom  he  saw  still  in  the  trail,  down  which  he 
was  now  furiously  coming. 

The  guide,  on  his  snowshoes,  in  tramping  out  the 
trail  had  near  the  hottom  made  a  little  turn  to  the 
left  in  order  to  escape  the  deepest  snowdrift  which 
the  wind  had  there  piled  up.  The  foremost  trains, 
with  their  powerful,  experienced  drivers,  had  hcen 
ahle  to  make  this  detour  all  right,  and  now  had 
stopped  only  a  little  way  ahead. 

By  the  time  the  trains  of  the  hoys  had  reached 
this  part  of  the  descent  they  were  in  a  most  thor- 
oughly mixed-up  condition.  Boys,  dogs,  and  sleds 
were  literally  so  tangled  up  that  they  were  to  the 
rest  of  the  party  an  indistinguishable  mass  as  down 
they  came,  and  at  the  bend  in  the  road,  instead  of 
being  able  to  turn,  they  all  flew  into  the  heavy  drift 
of  snow  which  was  straight  before  them,  and  almost 
disappeared.  There  was  quick  work  for  the  on- 
lookers now  to  do.  At  first  they  had  been  almost 
convulsed  with  laughter,  as  they  saw  the  mixed-up 
assortment  coming  down  in  such  a  way.  Then, 
when  the  whole  flew  by  and  buried  itself  so  thor- 
oughly  in  the  deep  drift  of  light,  fleecy  snow,  there 
was  instantly  a  good  deal  of  anxiety  for  the  boys. 

As  they  began  the  work  of  rescue  the  sight  before 
them  was  unique.  There  is  a  hand  working  des- 
perately, and  here  is  a  foot  waving  in  the  air.  There 
is  a  dog's  head  emerging  as  the  animal  makes  a  des- 
perate struggle  to  get  out,  and  there  is  the  curly  tail 

of  another  coming  into  view.     Only  such  a  land 

207 


i 


M 


y 
'Ml' 


|! 


f  i 


I 


m-i' 


[I 


Ul 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

could  show  such  a  sight.  Alec,  the  last  to  plunge 
in,  was  the  first  rescued,  although  he  had  been  com- 
pletely buried  out  of  sight,  as  had  been  the  others. 
Frank  was  the  next  pulled  out,  feet  foremost.  Sam 
was  the  last  rescued.  His  tobogganing  slide  had 
been  abruptly  ended  by  his  being  entangled  in  the 
harness  of  Frank's  train  coming  on  behind  him. 
Then  it  seemed  to  him  as  though  the  head  of  the  on- 
coming sled,  like  the  cowcatcher  on  an  engine,  had 
picked  him  and  the  dogs  up,  and  in  an  instant  more, 
he  said,  he  was  sent  flying  as  from  a  catapult  into 
the  drift,  the  instant  the  sled  left  the  track.  So  far 
ahead  was  he  thus  shot  that  the  sleds  stopped  before 
they  reached  him,  and  so,  although  he  was  deeply 
buried,  he  was  not  run  over. 

Not  one  of  the  boys  had  a  scratch  or  a  bruise. 
The  only  discomfort  was  that,  in  spite  of  big  mittens 
and  capotes,  so  much  snow  had  found  its  way  where 
it  was,  to  say  the  least,  not  very  welcome.  But  it 
was  light  and  feathery,  and  was  soon  dusted  off  or 
shaken  out,  and  then  the  work  was  to  get  out  and 
disentangle  the  dogs.  This  was  no  easy  matter. 
Some  of  them,  in  the  wild  rush  down  the  hill,  when 
struck  by  the  sleds  had  rolled  over  and  over  in  such 
a  way  that  their  traces  looked  more  like  ropes  than 
anything  else.  Others  of  them  were  now  in  such 
uncomfortable  positions  that  they  were  howling 
most  piteously  for  help,  while  others  that  had  hap- 
pened to  be  thrown  together,  and  perhaps  each 
thinking  that  the  others  were  to  blame  for  this  mix- 
up,  were  as  vigorously  fighting  as  their  entangle- 
ment in  their  harnesses  and  sleds  would  allow. 

208 


s 

plunge 
;n  corn- 
others. 
:.  Sam 
de  had 
[  in  the 
id  him. 
the  on- 
ne,  had 
it  more,, 
ult  into 
So  far 
1  beiore 
>  deeply 

,  bruise, 
mittens 
y  where 
But  it 
d  off  or 
out  and 
matter. 
11,  when 
in  such 
)es  than 
in  such 
lowling 
ad  hap- 
ps  each 
lis  mix- 
itangle- 
w. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

After  the  rescue  of  the  lads  the  Indians  unfas- 
tened one  of  their  most  powerful  dog-trains  from  one 
of  the  other  sleds  and  hitched  it  to  the  rear  of  these 
buried  ones,  from  which  they  had,  with  the  snow- 
shoes  as  shovels,  so  thrown  the  snow  that  they  could 
be  reached.  With  a  good  deal  of  effort  and  a  great 
deal  of  fun  they  were  pulled  out  one  by  one.  The 
dogs  of  each  train  were  naturally  indignant  at  thus 
being  unceremoniously  dragged  backward.  As  each 
sled  and  train  were  thus  hauled  out  and  straightened 
in  the  trail,  and  the  harness  untangled,  the  amount 
of  damage  could  be  ascertained.  With  the  exception 
of  a  few  loose  articles  that  were  buried  somewhere 
in  the  drift  there  was  no  loss.  It  is  true  that  some 
of  the  dogs  seemed  a  little  sore  and  stiff  for  a  few 
days,  but  beyond  that  there  was  nothing  serious. 
Snow  is  a  capital  substance  in  which  to  tumble  if 
there  is  plenty  of  it. 

This  adventure,  which  was  often  talked  about  and 
caused  many  a  hearty  laugh,  delayed  the  party  about 
a  couple  of  hours.  As  the  hill  up  which  they  were 
now  to  go  was  about  as  steep  as  the  one  down  which 
they  had  so  quickly  come,  it  was  decided  to  fasten 
two  trains  of  dogs  to  each  sled.  This,  while  making 
the  work  easier  on  the  dogs,  caused  considerable  de- 
lay. The  result  was  that  when  the  whole  party  had 
reached  the  top  Memotas  decided  that  it  would  be 

best  there  to  camp. 

14  2og 


Mi 


li'i 


■  m 
;  'i 

•'I 

1 


;.:-:il 


I ; 


i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


11  ;■ ' 


i    I 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Still  on  the  Way  to  the  Beaver  House — The  Winter  Camp  in 
the  Woods — Work  for  All — Feeding  the  Dogs — Our  Boys 
Guarding  Their  Own  Trains — The  Evening  Meal — Bitter  Cold 
— Milk  in  Lumps  of  Ice — Evening  Prayers — The  Wintry  Camp 
Bed — Tucked  In — Mysterious  Sounds  in  the  Forest — Smother- 
ing Sensations — Sam's  Nightmare — Breakfast — Tricky  Dogs — • 
Methods  of  Capture — Carioles  and  Sleds  Reloaded — Trains 
Harnessed — Journey  Resumed. 

A  WINTER  camp  in  the  North  Land,  and  the  tem- 
perature anywhere  from  thirty  to  sixty  below  zero ! 

Cold?  Yes,  we  think  so,  and  so  did  Frank,  Alec, 
and  Sam,  as  now  they  were  passing  through  their 
first  experience. 

As  was  stated  in  onr  last  chapter,  to  the  guide  was 
always  assigned  the  responsibilit}^  of  selecting  the 
camping  place.  The  place  here  chosen  by  Memotas 
was  considered  a  very  good  one.  First,  because 
there  was  abundance  of  dead,  dry  trees  to  serve  as 
fuel.  These  had  been  killed  a  year  or  so  before  by 
a  great  forest  fire  that  had  run  through  that  region 
of  country.  Second,  there  was  a  fine,  dense  balsam 
grove  that  had  escaped  the  fire.  In  one  part  of  it 
there  was  sufficient  space  for  the  camp.  Then,  in 
addition,  bv  cuttinof  down  some  of  the  smaller  of 
these  evergreen  trees,  their  branches,  finely  broken 
up,  would  help  to  make  the  bed  more  comfortable. 

These  are  the  essentials  for  a  good  camp:  plenty 
of  fuel  and  a  sheltered  spot.  It  is  not  always  easy 
to  find  good  camping  places,  so  the  guide  is  gener- 

210 


>YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ir  Camp  in 
Our  Boys 
Sitter  Cold 
ntry  Camp 
— Smother- 
:ky  Dogs— 
ed — Trains 

the  tem- 
ow  zero! 
nk,  Alec, 
Ligh  their 

>-uide  was 

cting  the 

Memotas 

because 

serve  as 

before  by 

jat  region 

ie  balsam 

lart  of  it 

jThen,  in 

mailer  of 

|y  broken 

fortable. 

plenty 

ays  easy 

lis  gener- 


ally  on  the  lookout  for  such  localities.  The  result  is 
his  quick  eye  and  good  memory  generally  enable 
liim  to  select  all  the  camps  that  will  be  required  on 
a  return  journey. 

When  all  the  sleds  were  at  the  spot  selected  the 
first  thing  done  was  to  unharness  the  dogs,  the  faith- 
ful animals  that  had  so  well  done  their  work.  It 
seemed  at  first  strange  to  the  boys  that  the  dogs 
could  be  treated  so  differently  from  what  horses 
wcr.1.1  have  been  when  the  day's  work  was  done. 
Indeed,  everything  was  novel  and  startling. 

A  day's  journey  was  ended,  and  they  were  about 
to  take  a  night's  rest.  But  how  different  from  trav- 
eling elsewhere.  Here  was  no  pleasant  hotel  or 
country  tavern  in  which  they  could  find  lodgings. 
Here  were  no  hospitable  settlers  to  invite  these 
strangers  in  to  be  their  guests.  They  were  prepar- 
ing to  stop  out  here  in  the  woods  all  night,  where 
there  was  neither  hotel  nor  private  dwelling  place 
nearer  than  the  home  they  had  left  now  so  many 
miles  behind. 

No  wonder  Sam  said,  as  he  pulled  a  piece  of  ice 
as  big  as  a  pepper  caster  off  the  fur  edge  of  his  cap, 
that  had  there  formed  from  his  breath : 

"This  beats  all  the  lodging  houses  I  ever  heard  of. 
Faith,  and  where  is  the  landlord?" 

Alec's  practical  reply  was :  *'Well,  there  will  be 
no  bill  to  pay  in  the  morning,  anyway." 

"Pay  or  no  pay,"  said  Sam,  "I  would  like  to 
know  where  we  are  going  to  sleep  in  such  a  place  as 
this?" 

"And  where  are  we  going  to  eat  ?"  said  Frank. 

211 


- 


ft  i 


■  i   r. 

.  m 


If! 


,1      !■• 


if  J     t 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

''Wait  a  little  while,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "and  you 
will  see  a  change  that  will  astonish  you.  In  the 
meantime  each  of  you  take  an  ax  and  see  which  of 
you  can  first  cut  down  one  of  those  trees.  The  ex- 
ercise will  do  you  good,  and  then  remember,"  he 
said  with  a  laugh,  "we  have  no  deadheads  on  this 
trip." 

Eagerly  the  boys  rushed  off  to  the  sleds  for  their 
axes,  and,  putting  on  their  snowshoes — for  the  snow 
was  too  deep  for  comfortable  work  without  them-  — 
they  were  soon  busily  engaged  at  what  was  Glad- 
stone's favorite  exercise.  In  the  meantime  the  men 
were  hard  at  work  in  preparing  the  camp.  The 
snow  wr.  between  three  and  four  feet  deep  at  the 
place  seicv,' -d.  Using  their  snowshoes  as  shovels, 
they  vigorously  attacked  the  snow  and  threw  it  up 
on  two  sides  and  in  the  rear,  making  a  snow  wall 
about  five  feet  high  on  three  sides.  The  two  oppo- 
site walls  were  about  twelve  feet  apart,  while  the 
rear  wall  was  perhaps  ten  feet  back  from  the  front 
space  where  the  snow  was  cleared  away.  Here  a 
great  log  heap  was  soon  piled  up.  Dry  splinters  and 
chips  were  placed  under,  and  an  Indian  -'vith  his 
flint  and  steel  soon  had  it  ignited.  In  a  little  while 
a  glorious  fire  was  blazing,  lighting  up  the  whole 
surroundings.  The  sun  had  gone  down  in  splendor' 
and  the  stars  one  by  one  had  quickly  come  out,  and 
now  the  whole  heavens  were  aglow  with  them.  On 
the  space  between  the  snowbanks  a  heavy  layer  of 
the  green  balsam  boughs  were  evenly  spread.  On 
these  the  robes  and  blankets  from  each  sled  were 
arranged  by  busy  hands,  while  others  attended  to 


212 


YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


and  you 
In  the 
which  of 
The  ex- 
iber,"  he 
s  on  this 

for  their 
the  snow 
X  them — 
k^as  Glad- 
i  the  men 
np.     The 
;ep  at  the 
s  shovels, 
rew  it  up 
?now  wall 
wo  oppo- 
while  the 
the  front 
Here  a 
nters  and 
vith  his 
Ittle  while 
fhe  whole 
splendor* 
out,  and 
em.    On 
layer  of 
lead.     On 
;led  were 
;ended  to 


various  other  duties.  Some  took  large  kettles  and 
filled  and  refilled  them  up  with  snovv,  and  kept  them 
on  the  blazing  fire  until  they  were  nearly  full  of 
water.  Meat  was  cooked  in  some,  while  tea  was 
made  in  others. 

The  dog-drivers  looked  after  their  own  dogs. 
From  the  sleds  sufficient  fish  were  taken  to  give  to 
each  dog  two  good  whitefish.  These  were  the  daily 
rations  of  the  dogs.  The  invariable  rule  is  when 
traveling  to  give  them  but  one  meal  a  day,  and  that 
is  given  at  the  evening  camp.  So  severe  is  the  frost 
that  these  fish  are  frozen  as  hard  as  rocks,  and  so  the 
drivers  have  to  knock  them  off  the  sticks  where  in 
tens  they  were  strung  when  caught.  Then  they  are 
placed  against  a  log  that  is  rolled  as  near  to  the  fire  as 
it  can  be  without  burning.  Against  this  log  the  fish 
are  stood  up  next  to  the  fire,  and  well  thawed  out, 
ere  they  are  given  to  the  dogs.  Getting  but  one  meal 
a  day  they  are  naturally  very  eager  for  it,  and  so  it 
is  no  wonder  if  some  of  them  get  up  an  occasional 
quarrel.  Neither  is  it  surprising  if  some  of  the 
stronger  and  more  greedy  strive  to  steal  some  por- 
tion of  the  supper  from  those  not  so  active  or  quick 
in  eating  as  themselves.  One  of  the  best  times  to 
study  dog  nature  is  when  they  are  being  fed. 

The  boys,  having  each  cut  down  a  good,  large 
tree,  hugely  enjoyed  the  feeding  of  the  thawed-out 
fish  to  their  own  dogs.  They  were  greatly  amused 
at  the  efforts  of  the  greedy  ones  to  rob  others.  They 
had  their  whips  in  hand,  and  while  they  each  took 
good  care  not  to  strike  his  own  dogs,  they  rather  en- 
joyed giving  a  crack  to  some  cunning  old  rascals 

213 


i'%' 


1  i^ 


'^  m 


:  II 


4     i 


k 


I 


iifl 


it 

r   :    I 

1 


,1 


!  i  •  Jl 


!  ! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

from  some  of  the  older  trains,  that  having  in  all 
probability  imposed  on  the  youngsters  all  summer 
imagined  they  could  with  impunity  keep  it  up  here. 

"You  would,  would  you,  you  thieving  beast !"  said 
Sam,  as  with  hearty  good  will  he  brought  his  whip 
vigorously  down  on  a  powerful  old  dog  that  was 
making  a  cunning  attempt  to  rob  Spitfire  of  about 
half  a  fish. 

With  a  howl  of  rage  the  baffled  fellow  quickly 
sprang  back  into  the  gloom. 

Frank  and  Alec  also  had  to  be  equally  alert,  to  see 
that  their  dogs  were  not  robbed  by  others. 

Mr.  Ross  and  the  Indians  w^ere  much  amused  and 
pleased  to  see  the  zeal  and  promptness  with  which 
the  boys  guarded  the  rights  of  their  trains.  They 
said  that  this  was  always  the  w'ay  with  old  dogs; 
that  they  would  try  most  persistently  for  a  few 
nights,  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  to  rob  the 
younger  animals.  A  few  good  thrashings  generally 
cured  them  of  it ;  and  sometimes,  to  the  surprise  of 
some  of  these  old  fellows,  a  youngster  would  de- 
velop such  spirit  and  strength  that  he  would  turn 
on  the  would-be  robber  and  give  him  a  thrashing 
himself.  Then  there  would  be  no  trouble  from  that 
old  fellow  afterward. 

"I  wonder  where  the  dogs  will  sleep,"  said  Frank. 

"Wait  a  little  while  and  you  will  see,"  was  the 
reply  from  Memotas,  the  guide. 

Sure  enough,  it  was  evident  that  they  knew 
how  to  look  out  for  themselves.  The  older  ones, 
after  being  certain  that  all  the  fish  had  been  dis- 
tributed, would  lift  up  their  heads  and  sniff  the 

214 


g  in  all 
summer 
up  here. 
5t!"said 
lis  whip 
hat  was 
of  about 

quickly 

rt,  to  see 

used  and 
th  which 
s.    They 
>ld  dogs; 
)r  a  few 
rob   the 
generally 
prise  of 
ould  de- 
>uld  turn 
irashing 
rom  that 

d  Frank, 
was  the 

ey  knew 
ier  ones, 
3een  dis- 
sniff  the 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

breeze.  No  matter  how  slight  it  was  they  could 
easily  detect  it.  Then  they  would  travel  about  the 
camp  in  the  snow  until  they  found  a  sheltered  spot, 
free  from  the  wind.  Here  they  would  turn  round 
and  round  until  they  had  made  a  hole  in  the  snow, 
away  down  near  the  ground.  Then  down  in  it  they 
would  curl  themselves  into  as  small  a  bundle  as  pos- 
sible, with  their  tails  over  their  noses,  and  there  they 
would  shiver  or  sleep  through  the  night,  as  the  cold 
would  permit. 

The  younger  dogs  seemed  at  first  very  uncertain 
as  to  their  mo\oments.  Some  of  them  followed  the 
actions  of  the  old  dogs,  but  others  that  had  but  little 
of  the  Eskimo  blood  in  them  clung  to  the  fire  and  the 
company  of  their  masters.  For  these  Mr.  Ross  had 
a  driver  bring  from  one  of  the  sleds  two  or  three 
extra  buffalo  skins,  which  he  thoughtfully  had 
brought  along.  These  were  spread  out  near  the  fire, 
at  a  spot  from  which  the  snow  was  partially  cleared. 

"Now  tell  your  dogs  to  sleep  there,"  said  Mr. 
Ross. 

The  boys  quickly  did  so,  and  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore those  that  had  not  gone  off  and  dug  nests  in  the 
snow  for  themselves  were  closely  cuddled  together 
on  the  comfortable  robes. 

In  the  meantime  supper  was  being  prepared  by 
others.  Meat  and  fish  in  generous  quantities  were 
cooked  in  the  kettles.  Bread  and  flat  cakes,  well 
supplied  with  grease  or  fat,  were  being  thawed 
out,  and  a  large  quantity  of  good  black  tea  was 
prepared. 

A  large  deerskin  robe  was  carefully  spread  out 

215 


1 


.11; 


IS  1; 


W' 


i  -.1 


i^iTi 


ii!^  1 


'% 


lii 


ii 


'ii 


I  lilfl 


:  -i* 


'ill 
■'i 


V  I! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

before  the  fire,  and  over  this  a  plain  tablecloth  was 
laid.  Then  the  dishes,  which  were  all  indestructible, 
were  placed  in  position,  and  the  fat  meat,  strong  tea, 
and  hot  rolls  or  buns  were  vigorously  attacked  by 
Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys.  While  they  were  thus  en- 
joying their  meal  the  rest  of  the  party,  not  far  off, 
were  similarly  engaged. 

There  were  several  things  about  this  camping  out 
in  the  woods  that  much  surprised  the  boys.  One 
was  that  the  numerous  sparks  from  the  fire  had  such 
long  fiery  tails.  Another  was  that  the  frost  so 
quickly  froze  up  the  large  pieces  of  meat,  that  often 
had  to  be  thawed  out  two  or  three  times  at  each 
meal.  Another  was  that  the  ice  often  formed  on 
their  cups  of  tea,  which  had  been  taken  boiling  hot 
out  of  the  kettle  only  a  few  minutes  before.  Then 
they  were  startled  by  sharp  reports,  like  pistol  or 
musket  shots,  that  they  kept  hearing  from  places  in 
the  dark  forest  all  around  them,  as  though  some 
lurking  savages .  were  taking  snap  shots  at  them. 
Two  especially  were  so  near  and  so  real  that  Sam 
jumped  up  so  suddenly  that  he  spilled  his  tea  over 
the  tablecloth. 

"Faith,  indeed,"  he  exclaimed,  "I  don't  want  to 
be  potted  out  here  by  any  wild  huntsmen,  or  North- 
ern desperado,  or  red  Indian." 

The  other  boys  were  also  much  startled,  but  Mr. 

Ross  quieted  their  fears  by  telling  them  that  these 

sounds  were  caused  by  the  bursting  in  the  trees,  as 

the  result  of  the  freezing  sap.    Water  in  freezing 

always  expands,  and  as  there  is  sufficient  sap  in  some 

trees,  when  it  freezes,  it  bursts  them.    It  must  ex- 

216 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


th  was 
nctible, 
ng  tea, 
ked  by 
lius  en- 
far  off, 

ing  out 
y.    One 
ad  such 
rost  so 
at  often 
at  each 
med  on 
ling  hot 
.    Then 
)istol  or 
)laces  in 
^h  some 
.t  them, 
lat  Sam 
ea  over 

Iwant  to 
North- 

)Ut  Mr. 
it  these 
trees,  as 
freezing 
I  in  some 
lUSt  ex- 


pand, and  tremendous  is  its  power,  as  even  the  burst 
rocks  will  show. 

''It  is  a  good  thing  that  the  ice  remains  on  the  top 
of  the  water,"  said  Frank.  "As  it  freezes  it  ex- 
pands, and  thus,  being  lighter  than  the  water,  it 
comes  to  the  top." 

"What  a  mess  we  would  be  in,"  said  Sam,  "if  as 
the  ice  froze  in  chunks  it  sank  to  the  bottom  and 
kept  at  it  all  winter.  Sure  then,  before  spring,  in 
such  a  land  as  this,  the  lakes  and  rivers  would  all  be 
one  solid  mass  of  ice,  and  then  what  would  become 
of  the  fish  and  us?" 

"A  sensible  remark,  Sam,  and  characteristically 
put,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  "If  the  ice  were  heavier  than 
the  water,  and  continued  sinking,  the  colder  regions 
would  continually  be  encroaching  on  the  warmer, 
to  such  a  degree  that  in  time  the  earth's  habitable 
portions  would  be  very  much  diminished." 

"Why  is  it,"  said  Alec,  "that  the  milk  which  we 
are  carrying  in  chunks,  wrapped  up  in  paper  bags, 
when  put  into  our  cups  of  tea,  does  not  melt  as  soon 
as  do  the  lumps  of  white  sugar  of  the  same  size?" 

"Closely  examine  a  lump  of  frozen  milk,  and  also 
a  lump  of  sugar,  and  you  will  easily  see  the  reason," 
said  Mr.  Ross.  "When  milk  is  firmly  frozen  it  is 
very  solid  indeed — so  solid  that  even  hot  water  can 
only  melt  it  on  its  surface.  With  a  lump  of  sugar  it 
is  very  different,  as  on  account  of  its  porousness  the 
water  at  once  forces  its  way  through  it,  and  thus  is 
able  to  quickly  dissolve  it." 

Thus  in  pleasant  chat  the  hour  passed  away  in 

spite  of  the  bitter  cold.     They  were  all  securely 

217 


V't-  'I 

II' 


'^i 


n 


Im 


■1;;'  :| 


H\ 


ms 


!    ; 


1:1 


! 


:(!!    I 


Winter  Adventures  of  'Kiiree  Boys 

wrap{)C(l  up,  only  portions  of  their  faces  being  visi- 
l)le.  They  regretted  that  they  could  not  handle  their 
knives  and  forks  with  their  heavy  mittens  on  their 
hands,  but  were  obliged  to  exchange  them  for  well- 
lined  gloves  while  they  ate.  After  all  had  eaten  their 
hearty  supper,  and  were  now  gathered  near  the  fire, 
one  of  the  Indians,  who,  like  the  rest  of  his  country- 
men in  this  party,  was  an  earnest,  devout  Christian, 
struck  up  in  a  strong,  melodious  voice  the  Evening 
Hymn,  translated  into  his  own  language. 

Quickly  the  others  joined  in,  while  INIr.  Ross  and 
the  boys  sang  in  unison  the  English  words.  After 
the  hymn  was  sung,  and  ended  up  with  Ken's  beau- 
tiful doxology,  "Praise  God  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow,"  another  Indian  devoutly  prayed  in  his 
own  language,  after  which  the  service  ended  by  all 
repeating  logether  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  English. 

The  boys  were  very  much  pleased  and  delighted 
witb  this  evening  service  of  praise  and  prayer. 
Their  w^eird  surroundings  added  to  its  impressive- 
ness.  Then  the  fact  that  they  were  out  in  the  cold 
forest,  with  no  roof  above  them  but  the  starry  heav- 
ens and  no  walls  around  them  but  snowbanks,  and 
the  temperature  so  many  degrees  below  zero,  made 
the  petition  in  the  beautiful  hymn  sung  very 
appropriate : 

Keep  me,  O  keep  me,  King  of  kings, 
Beneath  thine  own  almighty  wings! 

After  pra3^ers  the  men  made  a  thorough  examina- 
tion of  the  sleds  and  harness,  to  see  that  everything 

was  in  good  condition,  as  they  intended,  if  all  was 

218 


IN   THK  GrkAT   LoNK    LaND 


well,  to  start  on  tlie  journey  long  hours  before 
daylight. 

Then  the  beds  were  made.  This  opera'  .on  very 
much  interested  tho  boys.  The  first  thing  the  In- 
dians did  was  to  put  everybody  out  of  the  camp; 
then  they  scattered  fresh  green  balsam  boughs,  finely 
broken  up,  over  the  whole  spot,  from  which  the 
snow  had  nearly  all  been  cleared.  Then,  on  the  side 
where  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  were  to  sleep,  the 
Indian  bedmakers  first  spread  out  a  deerskin  wrap- 
per, which  during  the  day  was  used  to  hold  all  the 
various  articles  constituting  a  sleigh  load,  the  whole 
then  being  securely  lashed  on  by  deerskin  straps. 
It  was  made  by  sewing  several  large,  well-dressed 
deerskins  together.  This  large  wrapper  being  made 
smooth  and  even,  there  was  next  spread  out  on  it  a 
couple  of  splendid  buffalo  skins.  Then  on  the  top  of 
these  the  warm,  thick  blankets  known  as  four-point 
Hudson  Bay  Company's  blankets  were  placed. 

While  the  bed  was  being  thus  prepared  Mr.  Ross 
and  the  three  boys  were  busily  employed  in  prepar- 
ing themselves  to  occupy  it.  It  can  be  readily  under- 
stood that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  "undressing" 
for  bed  in  such  a  cold  bedroom. 

''Unloose  your  collars  and  shirt  bands,"  was  all 
the  directions  given,  as  far  as  disrobing  was 
concerned. 

The  heavy  traveling  moccasins  used  during  the 

day  \\ere  exchanged  either  for  long  fur  boots  that 

came  up  to  the  hips,  or  for  much  larger  and  softer 

moccasins  than  those  used  during  the  day. 

It  generally  added  to  the  comfort  if  a  few  of  the 

219 


■'".if 


li 


im 


Ml  I  I 


!IJ' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

tightest  buttons  on  some  of  tlic  inner  garments  were 
unloosed.  Then  the  licavy  hhuikct  coals,  which  liad 
been  well  dried  of  all  the  perspiration  absorbed  dur- 
ing the  day  and  well  warmed,  were  put  on.  The 
heavy  fur  caps,  with  the  big  fur  ears,  were  well 
drawn  down,  while  <jver  all  the  warm  capotes,  as 
hoods,  were  pulled  up  on  the  head  and  down  in  front 
to  the  nose.  Great  fur  mittens  made  of  beaver  and 
otter  fur  were  then  drawn  on  the  hands,  and  the 
night  suit  was  complete. 

Mr.  Ross  took  the  outside  place.  Then  Sam, 
Alec,  and  Frank  cuddled  down  in  the  order  named. 
There  they  lay  with  their  feet  as  near  to  the  fire  as 
it  was  safe,  so  as  not  to  burn  the  blankets  or  robes. 
Then  the  Indians  quickly  threw  some  heavy  blankets 
and  fur  robes  over  them  and  began  at  their  feet  to 
tuck  them  in.  Indians  are  very  clever  and  handy  at 
all  such  work,  their  movements  are  all  so  gentle  and 
skillful.  They  would  make  the  best  nurses  in  the 
world.  No  woman  is  quieter,  quicker,  or  more 
prompt  just  to  do  the  right  thing  in  the  right  way 
than  an  Indian  attendant  with  a  little  training.  It 
seems  to  come  to  them  more  natural  than  to  any 
other  people.  So  here  they  so  daintily  and  yet  so 
thoroughly  tucked  in  the  "master,"  as  they  called 
Mr.  Ross,  and  his  three  young  guests. 

The  boys  enjoyed  the  operation  hugely  until  they 
reached  their  heads.  Then,  as  the  Indians  began 
to  tuck  in  both  blankets  and  fur  robes  under  their 
heads,  completely  covering  them  up,  it  was  a  new 
experience,  and  one  not  very  pleasant  to  contem- 
plate. Mr.  Ross,  who  was  an  old  traveler  in  this  land, 

220 


fi.il 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


i  were 

h  had 
I  clur- 
Thc 
c  well 
tes,  as 
\  front 
cr  and 
nd  the 

I   Sam, 
named, 
fire  as 
'  robes, 
►lankets 
feet  to 
aiidy  at 
tie  and 
in  the 
more 
it  way 
ng.     It 
to  any 
yet  so 
called 

til  they 
;  began 
-r  their 
a  new 
ontem- 
is  land. 


and  one  who  liad  slept  out  hundreds  of  nights  in  this 
way,  was  not  at  all  disconiniodcd  by  the  tucking  in. 
But  it  was  too  much  for  the  boys.  They  stood  it  as 
long  as  they  could,  and  then  almost  simultaneously 
they  threw  up  their  arms  and  pulled  down  the  heavy 
coverings  from  their  frees. 

"O  dear!"  said  Sam.  "Let  me  freeze  to  death, 
but  for  dear  old  Ireland's  sake  don't  smother  me.  If 
ye  must  send  word  to  my  mother  that  I  have  been 
frozen  to  death  or  eaten  by  bears  she  Avill  believe 
you,  and  survive,  but  let  it  never  be  told  that  the 
Irish  lad  perished  in  this  country  under  iur  robes 
and  blankets." 

This  pathetic  lament  of  Sam's  brought  forth  roars 
of  laughter  from  all  who  could  understand  it. 

"What  have  you  to  say.  Alec?"  said  Mr.  Ross. 

"Well,  the  fact  is,"  he  replied,  "I  was  feeling 
about  as  Sam  has  expi  ;ssod  it,  only  i  put  it  in  a 
differ<^nt  way.  My  thoughts  were :  'It  is  queer  that 
I  should  iiave  escaped  from  the  wolves  to  be  suffo- 
cated in  tliis  land  for  the  want  of  fresh  air !'  " 

"What  say  you,  Frank  We  may  as  well  hear 
from  all." 

His  answer  was:  "Well,  as  I  lay  there  on  that: 
contracted  place,  and  the  half-smothery  sensation 
began  to  make  life  miserable,  I  remembered  some  of 
the  lessons  we  were  taught  at  school  about  requiring 
so  many  cubic  feet  of  fresh  air,  and  I  began  to  won- 
der if  such  laws  were  obsolete  out  here." 

With  a  little  more  freedom  the  boys  were  again 
tucked  in,  and  it  vv3.s  not  long  before  they  were 
sound  asleep. 


41 


221 


mi 


--  H'lUfrifinrin' 


■i  <! 


m 


4 


i 


m 


•jii 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Memotas,  the  guide,  rolled  himself  up  in  a  woven 
rabbit  skin  robe,  which  was  made  out  of  a  hundred 
and  twenty  skins,  sixty  being  the  warp  and  sixty  the 
woof.  His  place  was  next  to  Frank.  Then  the 
other  Indians,  in  their  blankets,  when  they  had  fin- 
ished their  smoking,  laid  down  wherever  there  was 
room.  These  hardy  natives  do  not  wear  half  of  the 
clothing  by  day  that  white  people  do,  neither  do  they 
require  such  warm  beds  at  night. 

The  only  disturbance  in  the  night  was  caused  by 
Sam.  He  set  up  a  great  howling,  which  caused  the 
guide  to  spring  up  in  a  hurry  to  see  what  was  the 
matter.  In  the  morning,  when  Sam  was  questioned 
as  to  his  troubles  in  the  night,  he  said  he  was  dream- 
ing that  he  was  sliding  down  one  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  with  an  elephant  after  him,  and  just  as 
he  reached  the  bottom  the  elephant  tumbled  on  him, 
and  there  he  lay  3^elling  for  help,  until  at  length 
some  one  came  and  drove  the  elephant  away. 

This  was  too  much  for  even  the  sedate,  clever 
Memotas,  and  as  Mr.  Ross  noticed  his  hearty  laugh, 
as  a  thing  so  unusual,  he  said : 

''Come,  Memotas,  you  must  surely  know  some- 
thing about  this." 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  *T  saw  the  elephant.  It  was 
Spitfire,  his  dog.  I  heard  Alec  moaning  gently  at 
first,  and  so  I  uncovered  my  head,  for  I  w^ake  very 
easily,  and  there  was  his  dog.  He  was  coming  up 
from  his  feet,  for  the  fire  was  burning  low.  He 
would  take  one  or  two  steps  and  then  stop  and  smell. 
I  saw  he  was  trying  to  find  his  master,  so  I  did  not 
disturb  him.    Soon  he  came  up  so  far  that  he  could 

222 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

lie  down  on  Sam's  chest,  on  the  outside  on  the  robes. 
Then  Sam,  he  hegan  howling,  and  so  he  had  what 
you  white  people  call  the  niglitmare,  but  this  time  it 
was  the  nightdog."  And  Memotas  softly  laughed 
again,  and  others  joined  with  him  at  Sam's  expense. 

At  Mr.  Ross's  recjuest  a  large  quantity  of  fuel  had 
been  cut  the  previous  evening,  so  that  the  fire  was  not 
allowed  to  go  entirely  out  during  the  whole  night. 
The  trees  most  common  for  fuel  in  all  the  North 
country  are  the  dry  spruce  and  balsam.  The  guides, 
looking  for  the  camp,  love  to  find  a  group  of  them 
where  they  arc  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  feet  high. 
All  required  are  chopped  down  and  then  cut  into 
lengths  of  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet.  They  are  easily 
handled  by  the  stalwart  men,  and  make  a  l:)right  fire. 
Generally  the  fire  is  allowed  to  go  out  after  all  have 
retired  to  rest.  However,  if  the  wolves  are  howling 
around,  the  fire  is  well  looked  after  all  night,  as  these 
vicious  brutes  are  very  much  afraid  of  a  bright  flame. 

The  stars  were  shining  l^rightly,  and  there  was  no 
sign  of  light  in  the  eastern  sky,  when  all  were  up  and 
busy  making  preparations  for  the  day's  journey. 
What  most  perplexed  the  boys  was  that  there  was 
no  preparation  made  for  washing  hands  or  faces. 
Towels  and  soap  were  not  considered  essentials  on 
such  a  journey.  Each  had  in  his  pocket  a  comb  and 
a  toothbrush,  and  with  these  and  a  cup  of  melted 
snow  he  had  to  be  content. 

Frank,  young  Englishman  that  he  was,  dearly 

loved  his  tub,  or  bath,  and  so  it  seemed  about  the 

hardest  deprivation  thus  far  presented  that  he  could 

neither  wash  his  hands  nor  face. 

223 


:C 


'  II 


jl    I  * 


4ifl 


i 


m 


liim  '• 


f'l 


'fifiiif 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

"Too  cold  for  that,"  said  the  guide.  "A  mission- 
ary once  tried  it,  although  we  warned  him  against  it. 
He  was  three  months  healing  up  his  chapped  and 
bleeding  hands."  Then  the  guide  added,  as  a  little 
consolation,  "If  you  like  you  can  give  yourself  a  dry 
rub  with  a  piece  of  deerskin." 

The  breakfast  was  similar  to  the  supper  of  the  pre- 
vious evening.  Indeed,  there  was  about  the  same  bill 
of  fare  for  every  meal.  It  was  strong,  hearty  food, 
and  everyone  was  ready  to  do  ample  justice  to  it. 

After  breakfast  came  prayers.  A  few  verses  from 
the  good  Book  were  read  by  Memotas,  and  then 
prayers  were  offered.  Twice  every  day  do  these 
godly  Indians  thus  worship  God.  They  are  the  con- 
verts of  self-sacrificing  missionaries  who,  coming 
into  these  lands,  amid  the  privations  and  hardships 
incident  to  such  lonely,  solitary  places,  here  patiently 
toiled  and  labored  to  win  these  natives  from  their 
degrading,  superstitious,  abominable  old  religion  to 
a  knowledge  of  the  one  living  and  true  God.  They 
have  not  toiled  in  vain,  as  the  true,  noble,  consistent 
lives  of  hundreds  of  their  converts  now  bear  witness. 

The  catching  and  harnessing  of  the  dogs  is  a  mat- 
ter of  pleasure  or  trouble,  just  as  the  dogs  have  been 
trained.  Dogs  kindly  treated  and  taught  to  obey 
give  no  trouble,  but  with  many,  where  their  training 
was  defective,  there  Is  constant  annoyance  and 
worry.  The  boys  had  treated  their  dogs  so  kindly 
that  the  cheery  call  was  all  that  was  needed.  So 
with  all  the  trains  of  Mr.  Ross's  except  one.  These 
■were  what  might  be  called  a  scratch  train.     They 

had  been  bought  singly  from  different  parties.  When 

224 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ission- 
inst  it. 
id  and 
a  little 
f  a  dry 

;he  pre- 
ime  bill 
y  food, 
:o  it. 
es  from 
id  then 
io  these 
the  con- 
coming 
ardships 
Datiently 
)ni  their 
igion  to 
They 
insistent 
witness, 
s  a  mat- 
ve  been 
to  obey 
training 
ce   and 
kindly 
.ed.     So 
These 
They 
When 


in  harness  they  were  the  equal  of  any,  but  the  trouble 
was  to  get  them  into  their  harness.  One  was  a  pure 
white  animal.  At  the  first  sound  or  movement  in  the 
camp  he  would  sometimes  quickly  sneak  away  from 
where  he  had  nested  all  night  and  then  lie  down 
quietly  in  the  snow.  So  white  and  still  was  he  that 
it  was  impossible  for  the  keenest  eye  to  detect  him  in 
the  early  morning  starlight.  No  calling  would  bring 
him.  He  just  lay  there  perfectly  still,  and  buried 
enough  to  be  even  with  the  snow  around  him.  When 
he  had  one  of  these  skulking  tricks  on  him  the  quick- 
est way  to  find  him  was  for  several  Indians  to  begin 
tramping  in  ever-widening  circles  around  the  camp 
until  they  ran  on  him.  He  would  never  run  away, 
but  his  cunning  trick  was  really  more  provoking  than 
if  he  did.  He  was  at  length  broken  of  it  by  being 
thoroughly  blackened.  Then,  of  course,  he  could  be 
easily  seen.  This  so  grieved  and  humiliated  him  that 
he  never  tried  the  trick  again,  even  after  his  beautiful 
white  coat  was  cleaned  for  him,  much  to  his  great 
joy. 

Some  dogs,  as  soon  as  they  hear  the  bells  jingling 
in  the  morning  as  their  drivers  come  for  them,  will 
skulk  off  into  dark  places  in  the  forests.  There  it 
is  often  difficult  to  find  them.  Then  again  some  are 
so  wild  that  a  rope  at  least  sixty  feet  in  length  is  tied 
to  their  necks  in  the  evening  as  they  are  unharnessed. 
By  tramping  around  them  in  the  morning  the  driver 
at  length  gets  hold  of  the  rope  and  draws  in  the 
culprit. 

A  missionary  who  traveled  some  thousands  of 

miles  every  winter  with  dogs  had  about  the  most 
15  225 


*? 


>f;, 


.:•  m 


m 

m 


u 


1^11 


mi 


•t< 


\ii 


ii' 


I ' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

satisfactory  way  of  summarily  dealing  with  skulkers. 
He  had  in  his  own  team  a  powerful  St.  Bernard,  so 
trained  thar  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  show  him  the 
collar  of  the  missing  dog  and  then  send  him  after 
the  truant.  Hamilton  gave  one  smell  at  the  collar 
and  then  was  off.  If  that  dog  was  anywhere  within 
two  miles  he  was  driven  into  the  camp  in  a  hurry. 
If  a  stubborn,  obstinate  dog  objected  to  march  in 
before  him,  he  gave  him  a  shaking  th.*.  never  had  to 
be  repeated.  Dogs  have  good  memories  for  various 
things. 

The  loading  the  sleds  was  not  as  easy  a  matter  as 
some  might  imagine.  This  the  boys  found  out  when 
they  tried  to  attend  to  the  work  themselves.  As 
stated  somewhere  else,  the  sleds  are  only  sixteen 
inches  wide  and  ten  feet  long.  They  are  made  of 
two  oak  boards  lying  on  the  flat  and  well  fastened 
together  by  crossbars.  The  front  end  is  planed  thin 
and  steamed,  and  is  then  curled  up  more  or  less 
gracefully,  according  to  the  taste  and  skill  of  the 
maker.  They  have  no  runners  on  them.  They  just 
glide  along  on  the  smooth  flat  under  surface  that  by 
wear  becomes  like  polished  glass.  Along  each  side 
numerous  loops  are  securely  fastened.  When  the 
empty  sled  is  to  be  loaded  the  first  thing  is  to  spread 
out  over  it  one  of  these  large  deerskin  wrappers,  the 
sled  being  under  the  exact  middle.  Then  the  various 
articles  constituting  the  load,  blankets,  robes,  provi- 
sions, kettles,  guns,  dog  fish,  and  everything  else, 
are  carefully  piled  up,  the  heaviest  at  the  bottom,  to 
make  the  upsets  as  few  as  possible.    Then  the  great 

deerskin  leather  is  carefully  and  tightly  folded  over 

226 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ulkers. 
ard,  so 
lim  the 
n  after 
e  collar 
;  within 
I  hurry, 
larch  in 
r  had  to 
various 

natter  as 
)ut  when 
Ives.    As 
f  sixteen 
made  of 
fastened 
aned  thin 
or  less 
ill  of  the 
rhey  just 
.e  that  by 
each  side 
Vhen  the 
to  spread 
,pers,  the 
le  various 
.es,  provi- 
ling  else, 
lottom,  to 
the  great 
;lded  over 


from  both  sides,  and  the  whole  is  securely  lashed  on 

by  the  strong  deerskin  ropes,  which  are  passed  from 

side  to  side  through  the  strong  loops  on  the  sled.  An 

experienced  driver  will  so  well  tie  on  a  great  load  of 

the  most  miscellaneous  articles  that  it  will  not  give 

an  inch,  or  be  in  the  slightest  degree  disarranged,  no 

matter  how  many  times  it  may  upset  or  roll  over  or 

tumble  down  hillsides  either  end  first  or  sideways. 

So  the  boys,  after  finding  that  their  best  handiwork 

in  this  line  ofLen  came  to  grief  in  bad  places,  were 

glad  to  avail  themselves  of  the  assistance  of  a  clever 

Indian,  and  there  was  no  more  trouble. 

One  careful  look  all  around  to  see  that  nothing  has 

been  forgotten,  and  the  cheery  "Marche !"  is  heard. 

Away  rushes  the  guide,  and  another  day's  journey  is 

begun. 

227 


■.i 


:ii.' 


ii 

4 

*  |i 
5.1  \ 

% 


I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


f  f 


If ' . 


^1 


m 


<    ! 


m 


■I     .:> 


i 


i    T( 


!5 


•ii 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Still  on  the  Way  to  the  Beavers — The  Blizzard  in  the  Camp — 
Sleeping  and  Eating  under  Difficulties — Vicious  Little  Beaver 
Dogs — The  Beaver  House — Preparations  for  Their  Capture — 
The  Beavers'  Kitchens — Discovered  hy  the  Little  Dogs — How 
Destroyed — The  Method  of  Capture — Man's  Experience 
versus  Animal  Instinct — The  Rich  Harvest  of  Beavers. 

Still  on  the  way  for  the  beavers ! 

We  are  surely  a  long  time  getting  there,  but  every 
mile  of  the  journey  is  interesting  and  full  of  novelty. 
We  left  the  blazing  camp  lire  at  a  little  this  side  of 
the  Wolf's  Cove.  The  stars  were  shining  brightly 
in  the  heavens.  Even  the  morning  star,  now  so  bril- 
liant, had  not  as  the  harbinger  of  the  great  sun  yet 
made  its  appearance. 

As  a  help  to  brighten  up  the  trail  for  a  short  dis- 
tance it  is  generally  customary  to  pile  on  the  fire, 
before  starting,  all  of  the  wood  remaining.  This 
makes  things  look  cheerful,  and  assists  in  the  last 
investigation  of  the  camp  that  nothing,  not  even  a 
half-buried  ax,  is  left  behind. 

At  first  the  progress  is  not  very  rapid.  It  is  fear- 
fully cold.  The  dogs  seem  a  little  stiff,  and  some  of 
them  act  as  though  they  would  much  prefer  to  re- 
main near  that  cozy  camp  fire.  But  there  is  no  time 
for  regrets  or  delays. 

"Marche !    Marche !"  is  the  cry,  and  as  the  whips, 

wielded  by  dexterous  hands,  give  out  their  emphatic 

cracks  the  coldness  and  stiffness  soon  wear  off,  and 

228 


:  Camp— 
e  Beaver 
rapture— 
,gs— How 
xperience 
rs. 

mt  every 

novelty. 
.s  side  of 

brightly 
vv  so  bril- 
,t  sun  yet 

short  dis- 
i  the  fire, 
ig.     This 
the  last 
lot  even  a 

lit  is  fear- 
Id  some  of 
]fer  to  re- 
ts no  time 

the  whips, 

emphatic 

ir  off,  and 


u 

> 

n 

<^ 


o 

3 

a, 

x: 


'^  I  m 


i^ 


3 


Pi  f  _ 


hhfi 


"; 


i   ;. 


IN    Tllli    GRIi:AT    LONL    LaND 

after  the  first  mile  or  two  the  progress  is  very  much 
improved  as  dogs  and  men  warm  up  to  their  work. 

We  need  not  dwell  much  longer  on  the  jcjurney. 
Enough  has  been  given  to  enable  every  bright  boy 
and  clever  girl  who  reads  these  pages  to  see  how  it  is 
that  travelers  get  along  in  a  land  where  only  the 
canoe  in  summer  and  the  dog-train  in  winter  afford 
them  any  possibilities  for  locomotion.  Here  are  no 
locomotives,  but  lots  of  locomotion,  and  the  most  of 
it  is  done  on  foot,  as  often  it  is  quite  enough  for  the 
dogs  to  drag  the  heavy  loads  through  the  deep  snow 
and  in  the  long,  tangled  forests,  without  carrying  an 
additional  man  or  boy.  So  it  is  walk,  or  run,  or  more 
generally  trot,  as  the  case  may  be,  as  the  dogs  are  able 
to  get  on  or  the  trail  will  permit. 

Another  long  day  with  its  glorious  sunrise,  and 
then,  after  the  weary  hours  of  travel  and  the  several 
stops  to  eat,  the  sunset  in  cold  splendor  comes,  and 
with  it  Memotas  calls  for  the  halt.  Then  another 
night  in  the  woods,  very  similar  to  the  one  fully 
described,  is  passed,  with  the  exception  that  during 
the  hours  of  tru  -bled  slumber  the  fierce  winds  arose, 
and  the  light,  dry  snow  in  the  three  piled-up  snow- 
banks of  the  camp  was  rudely  seized  hold  of  by  rough 
old  Boreas  and  driven  hither  and  thither  in  his  own 
rough  way.  Most  of  the  snow^  seemed  to  find  its 
way  back  to  the  place  from  which  the  snowshoes 
some  hours  before  had  thrown  it,  and  now  well  it 
is  for  our  young  lads  that  they  are  so  completely 
covered  up  in  their  bed,  for  the  snow  is  now  upon 
them  to  the  depth  of  a  couple  of  feet.     Fortunately, 

the  snow^  is  like  an  extra  blanket  which  Dame  Nature 

229 


I    t! 


i 


B  i 


1 

m 

'ii 

!:  ' 

s{-;; 


M'-' 

I 

1 

IM 
I'' 


1 

'  !  ■ 
'         1            i 

(  ' 

:  \ 

\k 

;        1 

1: 

i  ; 
'I 

1  .   1-:'            . 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Duvs 

has  thrown  upon  them  to  add  to  their  comfort.  When 
the  storm  was  beginning,  and  they  began  to  move 
as  some  erratic  snowtlakes  were  so  twisted  around 
that  they  reached  their  faces,  the  guid^,  who  well 
knew  what  a  wretched  night  of  discomfort  would  be 
theirs  if  they  now,  in  the  1)linding  storm,  uncovered 
their  heads,  shouted  to  them  with  a  good  deal  of 
sternness,  "Do  not  uncover  your  heads;  lie  still  and 
sleep."  This  after  a  little  efifort  they  were  able  to  do. 
The  fun,  or  rather  discomfort,  came  in  the  morning, 
when  the  cry  to  get  up  was  heard.  Suddenly  they 
sprang  up,  but  in  spite  of  all  their  (juickness  some  of 
the  snow  went  into  their  faces,  and  down  their  necks, 
and — well,  it  w-as  far  from  agreeable. 

The  outlook  was  dismal  enough.  The  storm  still 
continued  raging.  There  was,  in  addition  to  the 
wind  playing  all  sorts  of  pranks  with  what  had 
already  fallen,  now  a  heavy  snowfall  besides.  It 
seemed  to  penetrate  everywhere.  It  forced  its  way 
into  their  eyes  and  noses  and  pockets,  and  tried  to  get 
under  their  caps  and  capotes.  The  fire  was  com- 
pletely extinguished.  In  fact,  where  the  bright, 
blazing  fire  was  so  cheerily  throwing  out  its  heat  and 
warmth  when  they  were  tucked  in  by  the  faithful 
Indian,  now  a  great  snowdrift  occupied  the  very 
spot. 

The  experienced  travelers  in  these  lands,  even 
under  such  conditions  and  worse,  do  not  lose  heart. 
Quickly  they  went  to  work.  Strong  axes  soon  felled 
more  dry  trees  and  cut  them  into  logs.  Others,  with 
snowshoes  as  shovels,  soon  cleared  away  the  snow- 
drift from  the  fireplace.     A  skillful  firemaker  soon 

230 


Vhen 
move 
ound 
well 
ikl  be 
vcred 
:al  of 
11  and 
to  do. 
rning, 
/  they 
)me  of 
necks, 

m  still 
to  the 
it  had 
ES.      It 
ts  way 
to  get 
com- 
|bright, 
;at  and 
laithful 
|e  very 

even 
heart, 
felled 

IS,  with 
snow- 

\Y  soon 


m 


IN  Tiiii  CiREAT  Lone  Land 

had  the  dry  kindling  and  cliips  under  the  logs  in  a 
blaze,  and  now  the  wind  onlv  fanned  the  tlanics  to  a 
greater  brightness. 

As  the  downfall  of  snow  continues  very  heavy 
some  tough  poles  are  cut  down  and  one  end  of  them 
so  fastened  in  the  snow  that  they  are  firmly  held. 
They  are  so  slanted  toward  the  fire,  with  the  wind  in 
the  rear,  that  when  roofed  over  with  the  big  deerskin 
and  a  couple  drt)pped  each  side  it  is  astonishing  how 
comfortably  sheltered  a  few  persons  thus  can  be. 
The  active  Indians  shook  the  dry  snow  off  from  some 
robes,  and  placing  them  as  a  floor  Mr.  Ross  and  the 
boys  were  soon  under  a  storm-tight  roof  and  gazing 
into  the  great  fire  just  before  them,  that  gave  them 
both  warmth  and  cheer.  A  hot  breakfast  was  en- 
joyed as  soon  as  the  Indians  could  cook  it. 

Some  of  the  Indians  improvised  a  similar  lean-to 
for  themselves,  while  others  stood  out  in  the  gale 
around  the  fire  perfectly  unconcerned.  To  them  the 
heavy  storm  was  as  little  heeded  as  the  songs  of  the 
robins  in  springtime,  or  the  summer  zephyrs  among 
the  trees. 

Owing  to  the  delay  of  a  half  day  on  account  of 
this  disagreeable  storm,  the  party  did  not  reach  the 
vicinity  of  the  beaver  house  until  toward  evening. 
So  it  was  resolved  to  find  a  good  place  for  the  camp, 
as  the  Indian  hunters  who  owned  this  house  said  they 
would  not  take  the  beavers  until  the  third  day  in  the 
afternoon,  and  tlren  they  would  take  all  they  decided 
to  in  a  short  time.  This  was,  of  course,  all  a  mystery 
to  the  boys,  and  so  they  were  obliged  to  Lave  pa- 
tience and  witness  the  contest  between  animal  instinct 

231 


.1: 


ii 


4.  Jl 


Ifl 


(1 . 

WiNTKR    AdVKNTURKS    OF    Til  KICK    BoYS 

and  cunning  and  tnaiTs  reason,  <)t)scrvati()n,  and 
ingenuity. 

The  spot  selected  for  the  camp  was  not  far  from 
the  heaver  house,  vvliich  stood  in  its  symmetrical  pro- 
portions well  covered  with  snow,  and  looked  like  a 
great  haystack  in  some  farmer's  yard  at  home. 

The  hoys  had  ohserved  on  the  sled  of  these  Indians 
who  owned  the  heaver  house  a  little  wickerlikc 
hasket  well  lined  with  rahhit  .skin.  One  day  when 
peering  into  it  two  fierce  little  dogs  snapped  at  them 
most  viciously,  and  seemed  very  much  annoyed  at 
their  intrusion.  In  the  evening  at  the  camp  fire  they 
asked  Mr.  Ross  ahout  them,  and  were  surprised  to 
hear  that  they  are  what  are  called  heaver  dogs.  He 
said  they  were  valuahle,  for  with  their  help  the  In- 
dians would  get  the  beaver  in  a  very  novel  way, 
which  chey  would  see  commenced  to-morrow.  Mr. 
Ross  cautioned  the  hoys  not  to  put  their  naked  hands 
near  the  vicious  brutes,  as  they  were  very  fierce  and 
especially  disliked  white  people. 

The  camp  was  a  well-sheltered,  comfortable  one 
for  such  a  place,  and  as  the  storm  had  completely 
passed  away,  the  evening,  although  very  cold,  was 
a  fairly  enjoyable  one.  The  routine  at  this  camp  was 
similar  to  the  first.  The  only  excitement  the  boys 
had  was  when  one  of  the  Indians  came  in  from  ex- 
ploring the  beaver  house  and  dam  and  told  them 
that  a  -  rge  wolverine  was  seen  walking  on  the  dam 
the  beavers  had  made,  and  then  round  and  round  the 
beaver  house. 

"Beaver  plenty  safe  there,"  he  added,  in  his  broken 

English.    "Wall  four  feet  thick.    Frost  make  all  like 

232 


\f  -4 


and 


from 

pre)  - 

ike  a 


clians 
erlike 
when 
them 
^ed  at 
e  tliey 
sed  to 
V    He 
he  In- 
l  way, 
,    Mr. 
hands 
ce  and 

)le  one 
Ipletely 
|d,  was 

ip  was 
le  boys 

)m  ex- 

them 

he  dam 

md  the 

Ibroken 
lall  like 


IN  TiiK  (Irkat  Lonf*:  Land 

stone.  Only  one  door,  and  that  under  tlic  thick  ice 
and  water.  Wolverine  no  catch  !)eavcr  in  that 
house."  Then  he  added:  "Heaver  there  for  Injun 
to  take.  White  hoys  see  how  him  do  it  (|uick,  two 
days  more.     Plenty  wo;k  first,  then  plenty  heaver." 

This  picturesque  talk  to  the  hoys  was  verv  inter- 
esting", and  so  they  were  all  eager  to  see,  as  Stui 
said,  "the  curtain  go  up  and  the  show  begin." 

As  nothing  could  he  done  the  next  day  before  ilay- 
light,  there  was  no  particular  hurry  in  getting  up. 
After  giving  orders  to  the  men  who  were  left  in 
charge  at  the  camp  to  see  that  the  dogs  there  re- 
mained, and  that  everything  was  kept  in  the  best  of 
order,  and  dinner  ready  at  a  certain  hour,  Mr.  Ross 
and  the  boys,  like  the  rest,  strapped  on  their  snow- 
shoes  and  away  they  tramped.  The  Indian  hunters 
had  the  little  dogs  with  them.  These  they  carefully 
carried  and  kept  covered  up  when  not  at  work.  The 
boys  were  first  taken  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  from  which 
the  whole  pond,  dam,  and  beaver  house  could  be 
distinctly  seen.  Then  Mr.  Ross  explained  that,  while 
the  beaver  generally  dwelt  in  their  house  during  the 
winter,  they  had  in  addition  what  the  Indians  called 
kitchens.  These  were  cunningly  hid  along  the  shore 
at  the  edge  of  the  ice.  All  were  now  out  of  sight  and 
under  the  snow.  They  were  ingeniously  made,  in 
such  a  way  that  the  beaver  by  frequently  visiting 
them  and  breaking  away  the  ice,  as  it  formed  on  the 
inside,  could  thus  keep  them  open.  They  were  really 
breathing  places  for  the  beaver  in  case  they  should 
be  attacked  in  their  houses  and  driven  out. 

Inexperienced  hunters  often  try  to  get  the  beaver 

2.33 


I  '. 


m  flw 


I 


i    ' 


>.n 


'        ; 

m 


•  1!' 


■If' 

il 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

])y  chopping,  digging,  or  even  blasting  with  gun- 
powder a  hole  into  the  beaver  house.  If  the  pond  is 
well  supplied  with  kitchens,  or  breathing  places,  the 
beavers  need  only  laugh  at  such  hunters,  for  just  as 
soon  as  they  become  alarmed  by  these  outside  noises 
they  plunge  into  the  water,  which  is  always  open  in 
the  warm  house,  and  dive  out  under  the  outer  edge 
and  a\\'ay  they  go  under  the  thick  ice  to  the  kitchens, 
which  are  so  cunningly  l.id  away.  There  they 
quietly  remain  and  breathe  the  air  which  is  necessary, 
as  it  comes  through  the  light  snow  and  through  the 
rushes  and  reeds  from  which  they  keep  the  ice. 
When  the  noise  is  over  and  the  beavers  think  that 
their  enemies  have  gone,  they  go  back  to  the  house. 
If  the  invaders  have  much  destroyed  the  house,  the 
beavers  desert  it  entirely  and  live  in  these  kitchens 
until  the  spring  freshets  come  and  melt  and  carry 
away  the  ice. 

Sometimes  a  large  colony  of  beavers  with  a  big 
house  will  have  twenty  kitchens.  If  one  is  discovered 
they  swim  to  another.  We  must  remember  that  the 
beaver,  although  an  amphibious  animal  and  able  to 
remain  quite  a  time  under  water,  requires  fresh  air, 
and  so  must  go  where  he  can  get  it,  or  he  will  die. 
The  length  of  time  that  a  beaver  can  live  under  the 
ice  without  air  is  a  matter  of  dispute,  even  among 
the  experienced  hunters  themselves.  They  all,  how- 
ever, agree  in  saying  that,  when  beavers  find  all  of 
their  retreats  cut  off,  as  a  last  resort  they  come  up  to 
the  ice  and  breathe  out  the  air  in  their  lungs  against 
the  ice,  and  then,  when  it  is  good,  they  ])reathe  it  in 

again.     But  the  trouble  is  that  they  lose  some  air 

234 


¥ 


leainst 
le  it  in 
le  air 


IN  thp:  Grkat  Lone  Land 

bubbles  each  time,  and  so  they  soon  become  ex- 
hausted and  die. 

In  the  meantime,  while  these  interesting  explana- 
tions were  being  made  to  the  boys  the  Indians  had 
commenced  their  operations.  They  had  cut  down  a 
couple  of  small  green  birch  trees  which  were  eight  or 
ten  inches  in  diameter.  Then  they  cut  off  lengths 
of  about  eight  feet  each.  On  these  they  vigorously 
set  to  work  with  their  axes,  and  so  cut  or  trimmed 
these  down,  except  a  foot  or  fifteen  inches  at  one 
end,  so  that  when  finished  they  were  like  gigantic 
pounders. 

With  these  made  and  thrown  over  their  shoulders 
they  took  their  way  to  the  pond,  only  carrying  in 
addition  the  two  little  dogs.  When  the  pond  was 
reached  the  little  dogs  were  set  down  in  the  snow 
near  the  edge.  At  first  they  only  moaned  and  shiv- 
ered and  begged  to  be  again  taken  up  by  their 
masters.  These,  however,  had  no  intention  of  doing 
anything  of  the  kind. 

"Umisk !  Umisk !"  they  excitedly  cried,  and  soon 
this  Indian  word  for  *'beaver"  began  to  have  its  ef- 
fect upon  the  dogs.  Pricking  up  their  ears,  they 
began  running  about,  until  at  length,  with  a  couple 
of  yelps  of  triumph,  they  were  off.  They  hurried 
away  as  fast  as  their  little  legs  could  carry  them 
through  the  light  snow  to  a  spot  near  the  shore. 
Here  they  began  making  the  snow  fly  as  rapidly  as 
was  possible  with  their  fore  paws.  One  of  the  In- 
dians assisted  them  by  utilizing  his  snowshoe  as  a 
shovel,  and,  sure  enough,  there  at  the  very  edge  of 

the  ice  they  found  a  mass  of  rushes  and  grass  most 

235 


I 


,  <l 


S 


a'' 


'I 


11;  J 

r 
I 


m 


''•(. 


Ml.,      i; 


M     i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

cunningly  arranged,  with  a  little  space  in  the  center 
where  it  was  open  water.  This  was  a  beaver's  kitchen 
that  had  been  so  cunningly  discovered  by  the  keen 
scent  of  the  little      gs. 

As  soon  as  it  had  been  discovered  the  Indians 
quickly  picked  up  the  little  dogs  and  stowed  the 
shivering  creatures  in  warm  bags  on  their  backs. 
Now  the  boys  were  able  to  see  the  use  to  which  these 
great  big  pounders,  hewn  out  of  the  young  birch 
trees,  were  put.  With  both  of  them  the  men  began 
vigorously  pounding  down  the  coarse  grass  and 
rushes,  and  left  the  place  so  exposed  that  in  a  few 
hours  it  would  be  so  solidly  frozen  over  that  not  a 
particle  of  air  could  enter. 

Leaving  this  kitchen  now  completely  destroyed, 
they  began  skirting  the  shore  for  a  little  distance  up 
farther  from  the  beaver  house.  Once  more  they 
lifted  the  little  dogs  out  of  the  warm  bags  and  placed 
the  shivering  animals  on  the  ice.  Then  again  the  cry 
rang  out,  "Umisk!  Umisk!"  The  result  was  as 
before.  Like  as  an  electric  shock  these  words  acted 
upon  these  queer  little  dogs,  and  at  once  they  seemed 
to  forget  all  about  the  cold  and  most  vigorously  set 
to  work,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  had  discovered 
another  kitchen.  This  one  was  destroyed  in  the  same 
manner  as  was  the  first. 

Thus  on  and  on  they  cautiously  prospected  and 
worked.  At  one  place  where  they  had  gone,  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  last  kitchen  destroyed,  sud- 
denly one  of  the  little  dogs  obstinately  turned  back 
and  rushed  to  a  spot  where  even  Ihe  most  experienced 

Indian  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion  of  anything 

236 


Oin->**«*<**fcAi..»^  i.^. —>■»->*.  vMjyfcji^iaJii   *»4l!£.Mb>lr«-^ 


j;- 


I  \ 


and 

I  but  a 

sud- 

back 

ienced 

rtbing 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

being  until  the  keen  instinct  of  the  dog  discovered 
it.  Following  up  the  little  fellow  to  the  spot  where 
he  was  now  barking  most  furiously,  the  men  had 
not  dug  long  in  the  snow  before  they  found  the  most 
cunningly  hid  away  kitchen  on  the  whole  pond.  So 
large  was  it,  and  so  well  arranged  as  the  breathing 
place  of  a  large  number  of  beavers,  that  the  hunters 
declared  that  if  they  had  let  that  single  one  escape 
them  they  would  have  completely  failed  when  they 
made  their  attack  upon  the  beaver  house.  This 
sharpness  on  the  part  of  the  little  dog  made  the  men 
the  more  careful,  and  so  it  was  noon  ere  the  end  of 
the  pond  was  reached  and  about  half  of  this  work 
was  completed. 

Dinner  was  ready  for  all  when  they  returned  to 
the  camp.  The  boys  were  hungry  and  the  cold  had 
helped  to  sharpen  their  appetites. 

"How  is  it?"  said  Sam,  "that  I  find  myself  picking 
out  the  fattest  part  of  the  meat  and  hardly  caring  to 
eat  anything  else?" 

"That  is,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "because  you  are  in  first- 
class  health.  And  Nature,  true  to  her  instincts,  is 
giving  you  and  the  rest  of  us  the  craving  for  just  the 
kind  of  food  that  is  now  best  adapted  to  our  require- 
ments. Fat  food  has  more  heat  in  it  than  any  other 
kind,  and  so  that  which  you  here  crave  is  that  which 
is  really  the  most  suitable.  Living  as  we  now  are 
day  and  night  out  in  the  open  air  in  this  sharp  cold 
weather,  we  require  much  more  heat  to  keep  us  up 
to  our  normal  temperature  than  if  we  were  inside  of 
the  warm  walls  of  Sagasta-weekee." 

When  dinner  was  ended  the  party  returned  to  the 

237 


"I 


'i'':'! 


i 


I 


I      if 


i  li 


^...3^;s^y, 


\  ■ 


m 


ill 


■III 


I  ^  I  *1- 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

pond,  and  the  work  of  discovering-  and  destroying 
the  remaining  heavers'  kitchens  went  on  all  the  after- 
noon. The  following  night  the  two  Indian  hunters, 
upon  whom  so  much  depended,  did  not  take  any 
sleep,  but  with  their  heavy  pounders  kept  on  the  alert 
against  the  efforts  of  the  clever  beavers.  When  they 
returned  to  the  camp  for  a  hasty  breakfast  in  the 
morning  they  repoi  ted  that  they  had  had  a  very  busy 
night,  as  the  beavers  seemed  to  have  become  pos- 
sessed with  the  idea  that  an  attack  was  soon  to  be 
made  upon  them  in  their  house.  The  result  was 
they  were  very  active  all  night,  and  persistent  in  their 
efforts  to  break  through  the  new  ice  as  it  formed, 
and  thus,  if  possible,  keep  some  of  their  kitchens 
available  in  case  of  need.  Some  were  so  bold  that  if 
the  Indians  had  been  so  inclined  they  could  easily 
have  speared  them,  as  they  so  bravely  charged  the 
new  ice  with  their  heads  and  broke  it  up.  They  said 
that  at  that  largest  kitchen,  which  they  so  nearly 
overlooked,  the  beavers  made  their  most  persistent 
attacks.  At  times  as  many  as  a  half  dozen  would 
together  strike  bravely  at  the  ice.  However,  they 
thought  that  they  had  now  succeeded  in  getting 
e\ery  place  frozen  air-tight  and  they  could  safely 
begin  the  work  of  attack  upon  the  house,  so  that  they 
would  be  ready  by  to-morrow  to  begin  the  capture 
of  the  beaver. 

Axes  and  ice  chisels  were  the  powerful  tools  re- 
quired to-day,  Beginning  at  the  shore  on  each  side 
of  the  beaver  house,  the  Indians  cut  two  channels  in 
the  ice  about  a  foot  wide  and  so  converging  that 

they  met  about  six  feet  in  front  of  the  house.    Then 

238 


'il 


IS  re- 
side 

t\s  in 
that 
'hen 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

the  ice  was  cut  out  about  ten  feet  further  into  the 
pond  directly  in  front  of  the  house.  The  capital 
letter  Y  will  give  a  correct  idea  of  the  cuttings  thus 
made.  The  upper  two  lines  are  the  ones  from  the 
shore  on  each  side  of  the  beaver  house;  the  lower 
and  wider  part  of  the  letter  represents  the  channel 
cut  in  front.  This  was  perhaps  ten  feet  long  and 
about  two  feet  in  width. 

The  next  step  was  by  careful  measurement  with  a 
long  pole  to  find  the  depth  of  the  water  in  these 
channels  thus  free  of  ice.  When  this  was  done  every- 
body able  to  handle  an  ax  was  soon  busily  at  work 
cutting  down  small  trees  into  poles  not  less  than  four 
inches  in  diameter  and  so  long  that  when  well  driven 
in  the  mud  the  tops  would  still  be  considerably  above 
the  ice.  None  but  straight,  strong  ones  were  of  any 
use.  Then,  beginning  close  to  the  shore,  the  Indians, 
using,  of  course,  the  shorter  poles  where  the  water 
was  shallow,  began  driving  them  in  the  mud  through 
the  channels  cut  in  the  ice,  They  worked  very  care- 
fully, for  the  beaver  when  aroused  is  a  strong  as  well 
as  a  cunning  animal,  and  the  hunter  who  would  not 
fail  must  be  prepared  for  every  emergency.  The 
poles  were  driven  in  the  two  upper  sides  until  the 
approaching  columns  of  them  came  within  about  two 
feet  of  each  other  at  the  front.  From  this  point  the 
Indians  turned  and  began  driving  the  poles  in  the 
mud  in  two  lines,  parallel  to  each  other,  running  out 
into  the  pond.  This  left  a  channel,  allowing  for  the 
diameter  of  the  poles,  of,  say,  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches  wide  and  ten  feet  long. 

Carefully  examining  and  testing  over  and  over 

239 


^li 


^ 


m 


I  ;.        i   I  ■ 


iwi 


'n, 


1 
1   !-' 

i 

i  . 
1 

|!1 


<'l 


If! 


!        *   ? 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

again  the  grip  of  each  pole  which  had  been  driven 
into  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  pond,  the  men 
were  at  length  well  satisfied  with  their  work  and 
said:  ''Very  good.  Injun  have  much  fine  beaver 
this  time.  We  will  have  beavers'  tails  for  supper  to- 
morrow night." 

So  anxious  were  those  Indian  hunters  that  even 
during  the  second  night  they  slept  but  little,  and 
several  times  slipped  away  from  the  camp  and  walked 
around  from  kitchen  to  kitchen  to  see  that  in  every 
place  the  ice  was  firm  and  unbroken.  In  the  morn- 
ing, when  all  were  at  breakfast,  they  reported  that 
as  the  cold  had  become  so  intense  they  felt  confident 
of  success  and  anticipated  the  capture  of  a  large 
number  of  beaver.  For  days  they  had  been  working 
up  to  this  consummation.  Experienced  men  grimly 
and  remorselessly  had  pitted  their  long  years  of  ex- 
perience against  the  instincts  and  cunning  of  a  colony 
of  beavers,  and  as  it  always  is,  in  the  end,  man  must 
conquer. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  next?"  is  the  question 

of  the  boys.    All  the  answer,  however,  they  receive 

is  to  be  patient  and  they  will  soon  see  for  themselves. 

Their  interest,  however,  is  increased  when  to  all  is 

uttered  the  command,  "Get  all  the  guns  ready,  and 

load   them   heavily   with   powder."    With   several 

extra  charges  they  are  all  soon  on  their  way  to  the 

beaver  house.    When  there  they  find  that  the  water 

in  the  channel  cut  in  the  front  yesterday  has  ice  on  it 

fully  six  inches  in  thickness.     This  will  give  some 

idea  of  the  severity  of  the  cold,  but  nobody  seems  to 

notice  it  in  the  excitement  of  the  hour.    Very  quickly 

240 


If,  ^ 


lestion 
[eceive 
ielves. 
all  is 
,  and 
ieveral 
Ito  the 
water 
on  it 
some 
;ms  to 
luickly 


IN  tttE  Great  Lone  Land 

is  this  ice  hroken  up  and  thrown  out  on  the  frozen 
surface  of  the  pond. 

One  of  the  Indians  has  in  his  hand  a  long,  stiff  rod 
ahout  the  size  of  a  bamboo  fish  pole.  This  will  play 
an  important  part  in  the  capture  of  the  beaver,  as  we 
shall  see  later  on.  The  next  part  of  the  program  is 
of  great  interest  to  the  boys.  Everybody  now  goes 
to  the  land  side  of  the  beaver  house,  and  at  once  there 
begins  the  greatest  din  and  racket  it  is  possible  for 
the  whole  party  to  make.  The  guns  are  all  fired  off, 
and  loaded  and  fired  again  and  again.  The  men  with 
their  great  pounders  most  vigorously  beat  against 
the  solid  walls  on  the  land  side,  as  though  they  would 
burst  in  upon  the  now  terrified  inhabitants.*  This 
attack  and  noise  continued  until  it  is  supposed  that 
all  of  the  frightened  animals  have  fled  away  from  the 
house,  which  they  .Just  have  imagmed  was  about 
being  knocked  to  pieces  about  their  ears.  The  result 
is  the  house  is  deserted,  and  the  now  frightened 
beaver  are  away  out  somewhere  in  the  pond,  swim- 
ming under  the  ice. 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  feel  confident  that  all  have 
forsaken  the  house  they  hurry  out  on  the  pond  in  the 
front.  Here  in  the  open  water,  in  the  space  between 
the  poles  which  were  so  solidly  driven,  the  long 
slender  pole  is  pushed  down  firmly  through  the  water 
into  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  pond.  One  of  the 
Indians  now  quickly  pulls  off  his  shirt  sleeve,  as  well 
as  that  of  his  coat,  and  throws  himself  down  on  the 
ice  close  to  the  open  channel  whch  has  been  de- 
scribed.    His    comrade    quickly    throws    a    warm 

blanket  over  him  to  at  least  partly  protect  him  from 
1 6  241 


V 


li 


i  11 


1: 


V  |1 

:  I 


4a 


:   Ml 
I 


m 


m 


I 


M^''^ 


rzsammmmm 


i 


■■ml 


i 


1 


^1 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  intense  cold.  Then,  arming  himself  with  a  heavy 
ax,  this  second  Indian  quietly  steps  back  a  pace  or 
two. 

*'Hush!  Everybody  keep  still  or  sit  down  on  the 
ice,  and  do  ncc  utter  a  word.  Do  not  move  your 
feet  on  the  ice;  do  not  even  breathe  heavily,  for 
beavers  have  wonderful  powers  of  hearing." 

Promptly  had  everyone  obeyed  Mr.  Ross,  who 
had  uttered  these  commands.  He  had  placed  the 
boys  where  they  could  easily  see  the  wonderful  way 
in  which  these  experienced  hunters  would  quickly 
gather  up  their  beaver  harvest  after  all  their  effort 
and  toil. 

But' where  are  the  beavers  ?  They  are  in  all  proba- 
bility out  under  the  ice,  swimming  about  from  one 
kitchen  to  another,  vainly  trying  to  find  one  in  which 
they  can  get  their  lungs  full  of  fresh  air.  If  the  men 
and  those  saucy  little  dogs  have  been  successful  in 
closing  up  all  of  these  resorts,  vain  are  the  beavers' 
efforts.  For  a  long  time  these  wonderful  creatures 
are  able  to  keep  alive  under  water,  but  there  is  a  limit 
to  this  ability,  and  then  it  becomes  a  matter  of  life 
or  death  to  them.  Thus  it  now  was  with  these  bea- 
vers. They  had  been  frightened  from  their  home, 
and  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  obtain  fresh  air  at  places 
carefully  prepared  for  just  such  emergencies.  But, 
alas !  these  have  failed  them,  and  now  there  is  noth- 
ing else  to  do  but  to  make  the  effort  to  get  back  to 
their  home  as  soon  as  possible.  This  they  now  find 
is  no  easy  matter.  A  strange  barricade  of  stakes  is 
in  the  way,  and  there  is  only  one  opening,  and  even 

that  is  a  very  narrow  one.    But  they  are  now  in  such 

242 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


javy 
e  or 

1  the 
your 
,  for 

who 
\  the 
I  way 
lickly 
effort 

)roba- 
[n  one 
which 
le  men 


ul  in 


avers 
atures 
hmit 
of  Ufe 
e  bea- 
lome, 
places 
But, 
noth- 
ack  to 
w  find 
kes  is 
d  even 
n  such 


sad  straits  for  fresh  air  that  they  must  try  that  one 
place  and  get  to  their  home  or  perish. 

Meanwhile  the  boys,  sitting  so  still  and  quiet  on 
;tie  ice,  began  to  think  that  it  was  getting  very 
inonotonous,  especially  Sam,  who  found  it  to  be  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  have  to  hold  his  tongue  so  long. 
But  look !  The  top  of  that  long  slender  twig  is  being 
roughly  shaken,  and  quick  as  a  flash  down  goes  the 
naked  arm  of  the  alert  Indian,  and  as  rapidly  does  it 
come  up  again,  and  in  the  strong  grasp  of  his  hand 
is  a  fine,  large  beaver.  With  a  sudden  swinging 
movement  he  sends  it  sprawling  out  on  the  ice,  where 
his  comrade  is  waiting  to  dispatch  it  with  his  ax. 

Now  the  boys  see  the  important  part  played  by 

that  little  stick.    See,  it  moves  again,  and  once  more 

the  long,  naked  arm  is  thrust  down  and  another 

great  beaver  is  thrown  out  on  the  ice.    This  one,  like 

his  predecessor,  is  quickly  dispatched.     For  a  time 

all  is  still  again.    The  beavers  crowding  behind  these 

two  that  have  been  so  readily  captured  have  been 

frightened  by  their  sudden  movements,  so  unnatural, 

and  so  they  hesitated  to  follow.     Bui  others  are 

closely  following  behind,  and  all  are  suffering  acutely 

now  for  the  want  of  fresh  air,  and  thus  it  is  only  a 

minute  or  two  before  the  moving  stick  tells  the  story 

that  another  beaver  is  making  the  attempt  to  reach  a 

spot  where  he  can  get  some  fresh  air.    Vain  indeed 

are  his  efforts,  for  no  sooner  does  he  touch  that  fatal 

stick  than  down  goes  that  strong,  muscular  hand  and 

arm  and  he  is  thrown  out  on  the  ice,  to  be  killed  in 

the  same  manner  as  were  his  fellows. 

See  what  a  splendid  black  beaver  that  is !    But,  O 

243 


i'l 
•i.;i| 


M 


r  ' 
II. 


■• 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

dear !  he  has  lost  him.  Yes,  he  has.  That  is  too  bad, 
and  he  brought  him  up  far  enough  for  his  head  to  be 
out  of  the  water,  and  so  he  once  more  filled  up  his 
lungs,  and  as  he  tumbled  in  he  fell  beyond  the  stick. 
So  that  one  is  lost  for  this  year. 

But  there  is  no  time  for  mourning  over  the  loss  of 
one,  e\'en  if  he  was  a  beauty.  They  crowd  up  quickly 
now,  and  the  Indians  are  busy.  They  keep  cool  and 
alert,  for  the  harvest  is  increasing. 

The  condition  of  the  beavers  is  now  so  desperate 
that  recklessly  they  are  crowding  on,  and  although 
the  man  is  pulling  them  out  as  rapidly  as  possible  it 
is  evident  that  numbers,  especially  of  the  smaller 
ones,  are  slipping  by  and  thus  are  lost  for  that  year. 
In  order  to  secure  a  greater  number  the  second  In- 
dian gives  his  ax  to  Mr.  Ross  and  goes  to  the  help 
of  his  comrade. 

No  need  of  quiet  now.  The  remaining  beavers 
must  get  by  that  stick  or  perish,  and  as  they  make  the 
attempt,  while  some  are  captured,  many  others  es- 
cape. Thus  it  goes  on  until  the  last  one  has  either 
been  secured  by  the  Indians  or  has  eluded  them.  Let 
us  hope  that  he  escaped  to  live  another  year. 

"Count  the  spoils,  boys,"  shouts  Mr.  Ross.  No 
second  command  is  needed.  They  collect  them  to- 
gether and  find  that  there  are  forty-seven  of  them, 
and  not  a  small  one  among  them.  In  addition,  there 
were  plenty  that  escaped  to  restock  the  house,  and  in 
two  years  it  will  in  all  probability  be  as  rich  a  beaver 

harvest  field  as  it  has  been  to-day. 

244 


1  ! 


'   4 


I 


I 


! 


'a 


;51  ,  fl 


II 


I 


I'; 


:■!' 


It  J 


i 


1  * 


6 


J3 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Wise  Economy  of  Indian  Hunters — Game  Never  all  Killed—' 
Beavers'  Tails — The  Boys  Interested  in  Them — Preparations 
for  the  Return  Trip — Loads  Packed — Wolverines — Their  Cun- 
ning Theft  of  Five  Beavers — Dogs  and  Men  on  Their  Trail — 
Surviving  Beavers  Already  at  Work — The  Return  of  the  Hunt- 
ers— Captured  Wolverines — Journey  Resumed — The  Camp — 
The  Cry  of  "Wolves!" 

Allowing  a  nunil)cr  of  the  heavers  to  escape  was 
the  ahiiost  universal  custom  of  those  northern  In- 
dian hunters.  They  never  killed  all  the  game  of  any 
kind.  Thus  where  they  alone  hunted  the  forests 
continued  to  yield  their  yearly  supplies.  But  when 
the  white  trapper  enters  with  his  steel  traps  and  poi- 
sons he  kills  all  before  him,  if  possible,  even  if  he 
does  not  secure  one  half  of  it.  The  result  is  that 
great  regions  once  rich  in  valuable  fur-bearing  ani- 
mals are  now  as  completely  denuded  of  them  as  are 
the  prairies  of  the  once  countless  herds  of  buffalo. 
Pathetic  is  the  picture  of  the  last  of  the  buffalo ! 

The  call,  loud  and  clear,  was  set^.t  by  the  far-reach- 
ing voice  of  one  of  the  hunters  to  the  watchers  at  the 
camp,  and  speedily  in  answer  came  a  couple  of  trains 
of  dogs.  These  were  attached  to  the  two  now  well- 
filled  sleds,  and  the  whole  party,  flushed  with  tri- 
umph at  their  success,  returned  to  the  camp.  They 
are  all  in  good  trim  for  their  dinner,  and  speedily  is 
it  dispatched,  for  all  these  beavers  must  be  skinned, 
if  possible,  before  they  freeze. 

The  Indian  servants  of  Mr.  Ross  aid  the  hunters, 

246 


•(    i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


•i 


and  so  the  work  is  rapidly  done.  As  the  flesh  of  the 
beaver  is  very  much  prized  as  an  article  of  food,  the 
carcasses  were  carefully  prepared.  The  tails  were 
left  attached  to  the  bodies  with  the  exception  of  a 
half  dozen,  which  were  left  out  for  the  evening  meal. 
These  tails  very  much  interested  and  amused  the 
boys,  not  only  on  account  of  their  odd  appearance, 
but  because  of  the  many  queer  tales  they  had  heard 
about  them.  The  tail  of  the  beaver  serves  as  a  rud- 
der to  its  owner  when  he  is  swimming.  It  aids  him 
in  various  ways  when  he  is  building  his  cozy  house 
and  marvelously  constructed  dam.  Next  to  his  pow- 
erful teeth  it  is  his  best  weapon  of  defense,  as  with  it 
he  can  strike  a  very  heavy  blow\  Thus  it  was  no 
wonder  that  the  boys  were  interested  in  these  half 
dozen  tails  on  which  they  expected  to  dine  that 
evening. 

The  process  of  preparation  was  very  simple.  The 
tails  were  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long  and 
from  six  to  eight  inches  in  width,  and  about  an  inch 
thick.  They  were  oval-shaped,  somewhere  resembling 
in  appearance  a  mason's  trowel.  They  were  covered 
with  close-fitting,  fishlike  scales.  The  first  thing 
necessary  in  preparing  them  for  the  table  is  to  hold 
them  so  close  to  a  hot  fire  that  the  scales  will  speedily 
blister  off.  The  next  thing  is  to  boil  them  for  a  long 
time,  especially  if  they  are  the  tails  of  old  beavers. 
Then  it  is  best  to  allow  them  to  get  thoroughly  cold, 
as  they  taste  very  much  better  then  than  when  eaten 
hot.  In  carving  them  the  correct  method  is  to  cut 
the  meat  in  long  strips  from  the  powerful  central 

bone.    These  are  then  to  be  served  up  and  eaten  with 

246 


it 


::i|;tl 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

a  little  salt.  Beavers'  tails  thus  prepared  make  a  very 
dainty  dish.  Indeed,  it  is  one  of  the  great  delicacies 
of  the  country,  prized  alike  by  both  Indians  and 
travelers.  The  other  two  great  delicacies  of  the 
country  are  the  moose's  nose  and  the  bear's  paws. 

"That  looks  queer  to  me,"  said  Sam,  "that  the 
delicacies  of  a  coun^'^  should  be  the  beaver's  tail,  the 
bear's  paws,  and  the  moose's  nose.  If  such  is  the 
case,  you  see  that  when  here  eating  even  the  delica- 
cies of  the  land  you  are  reduced  to  extremities !" 

"A  very  good  one,  Sam,"  shouted  the  boys.  "Old 
Ireland  forever !" 

The  beavers'  tails,  although  never  tasted  before 
by  the  boys,  were  very  much  enjoyed  by  them.  They 
racked  their  brains  and  memories  to  try  and  think  of 
some  article  of  food  that  had  a  taste  somewhat  simi- 
lar, but  had  to  give  it  up.  So  they  had  to  agree  with 
Alec  that  if  you  wished  to  know^  just  how  beavers' 
tails  tasted — well,  you  must  eat  one. 

As  the  evening  promised  to  be  a  calm  and  beautiful 
one,  Mr.  Ross  said  that  they  had  better  start  not  long 
after  midnight.  They  could  travel  on  the  back  trail 
until  they  reached  the  camp  where  the  storm  had 
struck  them  without  much  difficulty ;  after  which  in 
all  probability  they  would  have  to  make  a  fresh  trail. 
A  blizzard  storm  in  that  land  quickly  obliterates  a 
trail,  and  thus  the  return  journey  is  often  made  with- 
out a  single  evidence  of  any  other  trip  ever  having 
been  made  in  that  region  of  country.  Their  great 
success  in  capturing  so  many  beavers  meant  a  large 
additional  weight  on  their  sleds.  However,  against 
that  was  the  fact  that  their  vigorous  appetites  haci 


ERl'      ' 

1'' 


\  w. 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

very  considerably  reduced  the  weight  of  their  outfit, 
and  in  addition  their  dogs  had,  since  they  left  home, 
devoured  about  a  thousandweight  of  fish.  Forty- 
seven  beavers  weigh  a  good  deal  when  they  have  to 
be  drawn  many  scores  of  miles  on  dog-sleds,  and  so, 
in  spite  of  the  lightened  loads,  it  was  no  easy  matter 
to  arrange  them  on  the  sleds. 

That  they  might  be  ready  to  make  the  desired  start 
in  good  time  it  was  thought  best  that  Mr.  Ross  and 
the  boys  should  go  to  bed  in  their  camp  outfit  as  has 
been  described,  while  the  men  should  load  up  the 
sleds  as  far  as  possible,  just  leaving  sufficient  room 
in  the  deerskin  wrappings  for  the  packing  away  of 
the  bedding  and  the  other  essentials  required  at  the 
midnight  meal.  This  meant  that  the  Indians  would 
have  at  least  two  hours'  less  sleep  than  the  whites. 
This  would  be  no  unusual  occurrence.  As  a  general 
thing  the  Indians  sleep  very  little  when  traveling,  in 
summer  or  winter.  This  is  especially  the  case  when 
they  are  employed  as  canoemen  or  dog-drivers. 
They  are  so  alert  and  vatchful  and  anxious  that 
everything  should  go  right,  that  often  white  men 
have  traveled  for  weeks  together  with  several  of 
these  red  men  in  their  employ  without  ever  having 
once  seen  one  of  them  asleep.  They  seldom  think  of 
lying  down  until  long  after  their  employers  have 
gone  to  sleep,  and  then  they  are  up  long  before  them 
in  the  mornings.  And  yet  how  few  there  are  who 
have  given  these  most  vigilant  and  faithful  of  com- 
rades or  servants  their  due  meed  of  praise! 

To  the  music  of  the  few  quiet,  whispered  words  of 
the  men,  as  they  actively  attended  to  the  work  of 


M^.1 


mi 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

packing  up  the  sleds,  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  quickly 
fell  into  dreamless  slumber.  When  the  men  had 
finished  packing  and  fastening  up  the  loads  they 
dragged  them  out  in  line  on  the  homeward  trail,  leav- 
ing sufficient  space  between  the  sleds  for  the  dogs 
wlien  they  should  be  harnessed  to  them.  The  result 
was  that  the  whole  line  of  sleds,  when  thus  stretched 
out,  extended  quite  a  distance  from  the  camp. 

Loud  were  the  shoutings  and  many  were  the  in- 
dignant utterances  which  quickly  aroused  Mr.  Ross 
and  his  young  bedfellows  from  their  slumbers. 

''What  is  the  matter?"  demanded  Mr.  Ross. 

''Wolverines !"  was  the  quick  response. 

Great  indeed  was  the  excitement,  and  at  first  the 
boys  cpuld  hardly  realize  how  the  mention  of  that 
one  word  could  cause  such  commotion.  Even  Mr. 
Ross  was  about  as  much  excited  as  anyone  else. 
While  guns  were  being  loaded,  and  other  prepara- 
tions were  being  made  for  a  speedy  hunt,  the  cause 
of  all  the  excitement  was  soon  told.  It  was  that  in 
spite  of  the  presence  of  so  many  persons  and  dogs 
the  wolverines  had  crept  up  to  the  sleds  and  had 
stolen  away  five  of  the  best  beavers,  and  in  addition 
had  so  badly  scented  with  their  horrid  odor  more 
than  a  dozen  others  that  they  were  absolutely 
worthless. 

"How  was  it  possible  that  none  of  the  dogs  de- 
tected them  ?"  asked  Mr.  Ross.  "They  are  generally 
sleeping  in  various  places  around  the  camp.  I  am 
sure  I  cannot  understand  how  those  brutes,  craning 
as  they  are,  could  play  such  a  trick  upon  us." 

In  response  to  this  one  of  the  men  explained  that 

249 


i  a 


BiE'iirmTrti 


\il 


♦ 


9 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

-liter  they  had  finished  arranging  t'leir  loads  they 
went  out  and  brought  into  the  camp  all  of  the  dogs, 
so  as  to  have  no  trouble  in  finding  them  wh'^n  they 
would  be  required.  They  stated  also  that  during  the 
brief  time  they  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep  some  of  the 
dogs  were  very  restless,  and  they  had  to  speak  sternly 
to  them  to  induce  them  to  be  quiet.    Then  he  added : 

"The  dogs  most  uneasy  were  those  of  Sam's  train. 
Several  times  they  growled,  and  were  very  uneasy. 
Spitfire  was  the  worst,  and  acted  like  a  dog  ready  for 
a  fight." 

The  stupid  drivers,  instead  of  calling  the  hunters, 
who  were  very  sleepy  from  the  fact  that  they  had  had 
hardly  any  sleep  for  several  nights  past,  sternly 
threatened  the  dogs,  and  thus  succeeded  in  quieting 
them  down.  After  a  time  some  disagreeably  tainted 
air  reached  the  sensitive  nostrils  of  one  of  the  Indian 
hunters.  He  did  not  require  a  second  sniff  to  tell  him 
what  it  indicated.  With  a  bound  he  was  up.  Sud- 
denly rousing  his  comrade,  they  rushed  out  into  the 
gloom  of  the  forest.  Unfortunately  for  them,  the 
fire  was  about  out,  and  so  at  first  it  was  impossible  to 
see  how  great  had  been  their  loss  from  these  stealthy, 
cunning  animals.  It  was  when  they  had  rushed  back 
to  the  camp,  and  were  rousing  up  the  other  men  and 
rebuilding  the  fire,  that  the  commotion  was  made 
which  had  so  suddenly  called  up  Mr.  Ross  and  the 
boys.  A  casual  glance  had  enabled  them  to  see,  as 
we  have  mentioned,  something  of  the  nature  of  their 
loss.  On  a  closer  investigation  it  was  found  that  the 
damage  was  even  much  greater. 

What  was  to  be  done  ?    This  was  the  question  now 

250 


■;,:>-v 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


now 


discus-ea,  aiiii  quickly  was  a  decision  arrived  at.  It 
was  o  Oi^-janize  a  party  and  have  them  get  on  the 
trai"  jf  I  he  wolverines  and  follow  them  up  until  they 
wen  reached.  It  was  decid*?d  that  those  dogs  which 
manifested  any  great  eagerness  to  pick  up  and  fol- 
low on  the  trail  should  be  the  ones  encouraged  to 
push  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  while  the  hunters  with 
their  guns  should  follow  as  speedily  as  it  could  be 
done  in  the  dense,  gloomy  forest. 

Spitfire  and  the  rest  of  Sam's  train  were  the  first 
when  taken  to  the  place  to  immediately  pick  up  the 
scent,  and,  as  soon  as  they  were  encouraged  by  Sam 
to  do  so,  away  they  ttash'^d  in  the  gloom.  Bruce  and 
his  comrades  were  equally  as  eager,  and  as  Alec's 
cheery  voice  rang  out  his  dogs  quickly  responded, 
and  away  they  sped  on  the  Ixv  trail  of  the  audacious, 
cunning  thieves.  The  two  hunter-;  und  a  couple  of 
Mr.  Loss's  best  men.  with  their  guns  well  loaded  and 
with  their  snowsnoes  on  their  feet,  as  rapidly  as  was 
possible  strode  after  them. 

Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  waited  until  the  last  sounds 
of  the  dog?  were  lost  in  the  distance,  and  then,  by  the 
liph^-  of  the  now  brilliant  camp  fire,  made  a  more 
careful  inspection  of  the  sleds,  and  so  were  able  to 
sec  the  full  extent  of  the  depredations  niade  by  these 
most  cunning  of  all  animals  in  those  regions.  There 
they  not  only  saw  the  full  extent  -^ :"  their  destructive- 
ness,  but  under  the  guidance  of  the  Indian  now  keep- 
ing watch  over  the  s'eds  they  were  able,  by  following 
back  on  their  tracks,  to  see  how  five  wolverines  had 
outwitted  the  whole  of  them,  dogs  included. 

When  they  returned  to  the  warmth  and  cheer  of 

2SI 


\ 


1    I 


f 


ill 


,4.-. 


X>-v>-t, 


hi  ' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  camp  fire  they  found  that  old  Memotas  and  others 
had  prepared  for  them  a  good  warm  breakfast. 
While  it  was  being  partaken  of  Frank  turned  to 
Memotas  and  said : 

*'How  is  it  that  you,  who  are  so  great  a  hunter,  are 
not  off  in  the  woods  with  those  other  men  ?" 

With  a  grim,  sarcastic  smile  he  replied :  "Better 
some  one  stay  in  camp  for  fear  wolverines  come  in 
on  other  side  and  steal  what  is  left." 

This  answer  was  at  first  quite  a  riddle  to  the  boys. 
But  the  fact  was  he  was  so  thoroughly  disgusted  at 
the  remissness  of  those  whose  duty  had  been  to  have 
watched  that  night  that  he  felt  that  a  great  dis- 
grace had  come  to  them  all.  The  idea  of  allowing 
five  wolverines  to  thus  steal  such  a  march  upon  them 
was  too  much  for  even  the  patient,  kind-hearted 
Memotas. 

"Why,"  said  he,  "it  will  be  the  story  at  every  camp 
fire  this  winter — yes,  and  for  long  years  to  come. 
We  all  know  that  wolverines  are  cunning  animals, 
but  when  the  fact  is  known  that  there  were  so  many 
of  us  in  the  camp  at  the  time  that  five  beavers  were 
stolen  from  our  sleds — why,  great  will  be  their  ridi- 
cule and  contempt  for  us." 

It  was  indeed  a  long  time  since  Memotas  had  made 
such  a  long  speech  of  this  kind,  and  so  when  he 
stopped  there  was  an  awkward  silence.  Even  Mr. 
Ross  had  nothing  to  say.  It  was  very  evident,  how- 
ever, that  he  felt  that  there  had  been  very  great  care- 
lessness on  the  part  of  somebody,  and  perhaps  he 
chided  himself  that  he  had  not  interested  himself  in 
the  matter.    However,  he  had  his  hopes  that  in  spite 


IN  THE  Grhat  Lone  Land 


made 
;n  be 

Mr. 
how- 
care- 

s  be 
elf  in 

spite 


of  tbe  cunning  of  tbe  wolverines  tbc  men  would 
succeed  in  killing  some  of  tliem,  and  as  one  wol- 
verine skin  is  wortb  four  beaver  skins,  if  tliey  were 
successful  tliere  would  at  least  be  some  satisfaction 
in  tbat. 

As  it  was  still  a  long  time  until  dayligbt  tbe  boys 
were  persuaded  to  lie  down  in  tbeir  bed,  and  Memo- 
tas  carefully  tucked  tbem  in.  Refresbing  sleep 
speedily  came  to  tbem  again,  and  wben  tliey  awoke 
it  was  to  bear  Mr,  Ross  giving  some  final  instruc- 
tions to  tbree  dog-drivers  wbo  were  just  ab(3Ut  to 
start  on  tbe  trail  made  at  midnigbt  l)y  tbe  wolver- 
ines, barking  dogs  and  avigiy,  indignant  bunters. 
Wrapped  securely  upon  tbeir  sleds  was  a  liberal 
supply  of  food,  witb  kettles,  axes,  and  otber  tbings 
tbat  migbt  be  required. 

As  tbey  started  tbe  eastern  sky  almost  suddenly 
became  illuminated  witb  tbe  brigbtness  of  tbe  com- 
ing day.  So  beautiful  was  tbe  morning  tbat  tbe 
boys  longed  to  go  watb  tbe  departing  trains.  It  was 
tbougbt  best,  bowever,  owing  to  tbe  uncertainty  and 
probable  bardsbips  tbat  migbt  bave  to  be  encoun- 
tered, not  to  run  tbe  risk.  To  pleasantly  and  profit- 
ably pass  tbe  time  it  was  suggested  tbat  some  of 
tbem  go  out  on  a  tour  of  investigation  on  tbe  trail 
of  tbe  wolverines,  and  see  in  wbat  direction  tbey 
came  and  how  it  was  tbat  tbey  bad  so  well  succeeded 
in  tbeir  movements.  Dear  old  Memotas,  disconso- 
late as  be  was,  was  persuaded  to  go  along  and  ex- 
plain tbe  various  movements  of  tbese  clever  animals 
to  tbe  boys.    Tbis  be  could  well  do,  as  be  bad  bunted 

tbem  for  many  years  and  knew  mucli  about  tbem, 

253 


It' 


i- 


<1 

Hi 


'^smmmatm 


1 1 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

althougli  he  always  declared  that  there  were  some  of 
them  that  conld  outwit  any  Indian. 

They  all  first  went  to  the  spot  where  stood  the 
sleds  f  'om  whicli  the  beavers  had  been  stolen.  Then, 
with  Mcmotas  leading,  they  followed  back  on  the 
tracks,  and  soon  they  found  as  they  went  on  that 
the  cautious  animals  had  completely  crept  around 
the  camp  ere  they  had  begun  their  depredations. 
Continuing  on  their  trail,  still  going  back,  they 
found  that  the  wolverines  had  come  directly  from 
the  spot  on  the  dam  where  the  beavers  had  been  cap- 
tured, as  has  been  described. 

While  so  near  the  beaver  house  Memotas  said  to 
the  boys  that  it  might  be  interesting  to  try  and  find 
out  if  the  surviving  beavers  had  as  yet  gone  to  work 
again.  That  anything  could  be  found  out  seemed 
impossible  to  the  boys,  but  the  experienced  eye  of  the 
old  Indian  saw  evidences  of  their  industry  very  close 
at  hand.  Of  course  the  intense  cold  had  again 
frozen  up  the  water  where  from  it  the  ice  had  been 
cut  and  thrown  out.  This  newly  formed  ice,  of 
course,  firmly  held  np  the  row  of  strong  stakes  which 
wnth  so  much  trouble  and  care  the  men  had  driven  so 
solidly  in  the  ground.  Drawing  his  hunting  ax 
from  his  belt,  Memotas  struck  the  projecting  ends  of 
the  stakes  a  few  smart  blows,  just  sufficient  to  loosen 
them  from  the  new  ice.  Then  said  Memotas  to  the 
boys : 

'Try  and  see  which  of  you  is  strong  enough  to 
pull  any  of  them  up." 

Eagerly  they  each  seized  hold  of  one,  and,  ex- 
pecting that  the  other  end  was  still  securely  stuck 


I 


3een 
of 

hich 

n  so 
ax 

Is  of 


rh  to 


ex- 


I'iiii 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

in  the  mud,  they  pulled  with  such  vigor  that  the 
three  of  them  nearly  fell  over  on  their  hacks.  To 
their  astonishment  they  found  hy  the  appearance  of 
the  short  sticks  in  their  hands  that  the  beavers  had 
cut  them  off  just  below  the  ice. 

After  some  further  interesting  investigation  they 
returned  to  the  camp,  for  very  naturally  they  were 
all  anxious  to  gei  some  word  from  the  hunters  and 
the  dogs.  Fortunately  they  had  not  long  to  wait, 
for  very  soon  after  their  return  the  expected  ones 
dashed  into  their  midst.  On  their  sleds  they  had 
three  dead  wolverines.  The  dogs  had  retarned 
panting  and  tired.  They  were  all  in  good  shape 
except  Bruce  and  another  one  of  Alec's  train.  These, 
in  battle  with  the  wolverines,  had  each  received  a 
couple  of  severe  flesh  wounds,  hut  they  seemed  to 
think  nothing  of  them,  and  in  a  short  time  they 
completely  healed  U]).  iLverybody  was,  of  course, 
anxious  to  hear  their  story,  and  so  one  of  the  hunters 
was  asked  to  be  the  spokesman  for  the  whole,  and 
here  is  about  what  he  said : 

**You  all  know  how  we  started.     You  boys  set 

your  dogs  on  the  tracks,  and  away  they  went  and 

we  after,  as  fast  as  we  could  follow.     The  dogs 

could  travel  much  faster  than  we  could,  and  so  it 

was  not  long  before  they  were  out  of  hearing.    The 

wolverines  must  have  got  a  good  start,  as  it  was 

a  long  time  before  we  found  any  trace  of  them.    But 

we  pushed  on  as  fast  as  it  was  possible  for  us  to  do 

in   the   darkness.     Sometimes   the   northern   lights 

shone  out.  and  tlien  we  made  very  much  better  time. 

By  and  by  we  came  to  a  half -eaten  beaver  that  had 

255 


it 


'4' 


■  '  I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

been  dropped  by  one  of  the  thieves.  This  told  us 
that  tlic  dogs  must  be  driving  them  very  close,  for  a 
wolverine  will  make  a  big  fight  before  he  will  give 
up  what  he  has  secured.  Still  on  we  hurried,  and  it 
was  not  long  after  this  before  we  heard  the  dogs 
t/^ain.  Then  we  found  another  of  the  skinned  bea- 
vers, and  now  the  barkings  of  the  dogs  told  us  that 
the  fight  was  on  in  good  earnest. 

"We  had  been  so  much  hindered  by  the  dense 
woods,  that  was  the  reason  we  were  so  far  behind, 
but  now,  as  we  came  out  from  a  bad  piece  of  the 
forest,  right  there  before  us  was  a  sight  to  please  us 
for  our  anger  at  the  loss  of  the  beaver.  The  dogs 
had  driven  one  wolverine  up  into  the  branches  of  a 
large  tree,  while  others  were  barking  furiously  at 
two  others  which  they  had  chased  up  among  some 
steep  rocks.  It  was  at  this  time,  just  as  we  reached 
them,  that  some  of  the  dogs  got  cut  and  wounded. 
They  seemed  to  be  so  glad  to  see  us  coming  to  their 
help  that  they  made  a  furious  attack  upon  the  two 
that  were  upon  the  rocks,  and  some  of  them  were 
taught  that  wolverines  have  sharp  teeth  and  know 
well  how  to  use  them. 

"We  speedily  shot  these  three  animals,  and  then 

began  at  once  to  look  for  the  tracks  of  the  other  two. 

After  some  time  we  found  them,  and  in  following 

them  up  we  soon  saw  that  they  had  reached  the  great 

cliffs,  among  which  are  their  dens.     We  could  not 

then  hope  for  much  more  success.    So  we  returned 

to  the  spot  where  we  had  left  the  three  dead  ones, 

and  were  just  about  beginning  to  skin  them  when 

the  sleds  arrived,  and  it  was  thought  best,  after  we 

256 


♦, 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Lani^ 

had  had  something  to  eat  from  the  supphes  Mr. 
Ross  was  so  good  as  to  send  us,  for  us  all  to  return, 
and  here  we  are." 

This  was  the  story,  and  it  showed  quick,  sharp, 
thorough  work  on  the  part  of  l)oth  men  and  dogs. 
This  long  dela>  had  caused  quite  a  hreak  in  their 
plans.  Mr.  Ross,  however,  decided  that  just  as  soon 
as  the  wolverines  could  he  skinned,  and  dinner  pre- 
pared and  caien,  the  home  journey  must  he  resumed. 
Some  of  the  party  would  have  preferred  to  have 
remained  until  the  next  day  before  starting,  but 
Lltmotas  sarcastically  remarked  that  they  had  bet- 
ter go  on  for  fear  some  more  wolverines  might 
come  and  carry  away  the  rest  of  the  beavers !  It  is 
a  remarkable  fact,  and  one  interesting  to  study,  that 
the  Indians  are  much  more  bitter  and  sarcastic  on 
each  other  for  any  act  of  carelessness  in  capturing 
or  securing  their  game  than  for  any  other  defect  or 
folly. 

The  homeward  journey  was  soon  resumed,  and 
after  traveling  about  twenty  miles  the  winter  camp 
was  prepared.  Fortunate  was  it  for  them  that  they 
were  able  to  find  a  favorable  place  in  the  very  midst 
of  a  large  quantity  of  dry  trees.  So  warm  and  in- 
vigorating was  the  work  of  cutting  down  these  tall 
dry  trees  that  not  only  did  the  boys,  but  several  of 
the  men,  as  they  said,  for  the  fun  of  it,  slash  away 
until  an  unusually  large  number  had  thus  been  made 
ready  for  the  fire. 

The  owners  of  the  beavers  were  not  to  be  caught 

napping  again,  and  so  they  erected  a  kind  of  a 

staging  near  to  the  camp,  on  which  the  valuable  loads 
1 7  257 


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Hiotographic 

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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MStO 

(716)ll7a-4503 


'^1^ 

'^f^^ 


'^ 


^  m 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


!■ 


I  i  -d 


of  meat  and  furs  were  safely  placed.  Memotas  had 
to  have  another  drive  or  two  at  them,  and  so  he 
ironically  congratulated  them  on  their  late  precau- 
tions. Sam  said  it  looked  like  the  old  proverb  of 
locking  your  stable  after  the  horse  was  stolen.  Alec's 
more  charitable  remark  was,  "It  is  best  to  be  made 
wise  by  the  loss  and  then  strive  to  save  the  rest." 

Yes,  indeed,  it  was  a  wise  precaution,  for  even 
now,  while  the  men  were  thus  hard  at  work  and 
others  were  thus  discussing  their  actions,  far  back 
on  the  trail  hungry  and  cruel  enemies  have  caught 
the  rich  scent  of  the  beaver,  and  with  long,  louping 
strides  are  rapidly  drawing  near.  Supper  and 
prayers  were  over,  and  the  men  had  nicely  tucked 
in  the  boys  in  their  warm  bed.  Before  lying  down 
themselves  they  had  as  usual  lit  their  pipes  and  were 
having  a  quiet  chat  over  the  usual  incidents  of  the 
day.  With  a  sudden  start  they  were  all  on  their 
feet  in  an  instant,  for  coming  down  on  the  wind,  in 
the  direction  in  which  they  had  so  recently  traveled, 
they  heard  a  sound  so  blood-curdling  and  so  omi- 
nous that  it  has  chilled  the  very  heart  and  caused  the 
rli^^eks  to  blanch  of  many  a  stout-hearted  traveler, 

the  bowlings  of  a  pack  of  wolves ! 

258 


>> 


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IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


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CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Coming  Battle  with  the  Wolves— Thorough  Prepara- 
tions— The  Cry  of  the  Wolves  for  Reinforcements — The  First 
Attack  and  Repulse — Wounded  Wolves  Devoured — Memotas's 
Comments — The  Second  Attack — The  Powder  Explosions — 
Final  Victory — Dogs  Reluctant  to  Attack  Wolves — Explana- 
tions— Mr.  Ross's  Story  of  the  Bears  Stealing  His  Pigs — Dogs 
More  Confident  in  Attacking  Bears. 

The  Indians  very  quickly  aroused  Mr.  Ross,  who 
at  once  realized  the  danger  that  menaced  them.  The 
Indians,  prompt  to  act  in  such  emergencies,  had 
already  begun  their  preparations  to  meet  the  on- 
coming foes.  They  had  seized  their  axes,  and  were 
already  hard  at  work  cutting  down  more  trees,  that 
there  might  be  an  additional  supply  of  wood  with 
which  the  fire  could  be  kept  brilliantly  burning. 
Some  of  the  men  were  busily  engaged  in  getting  the 
gu^«  and  ammunition  ready  and  in  making  other 
arrangements  that  would  aid  to  success  in  the  ap- 
proaching battle. 

To  Mr.  Ross  the  Indians  left  the  work  of  calling 
up  the  boys  and  informing  them  of  the  coming 
danger.  This  he  speedily  did,  and  great  was  their 
su-  prise  when  informed  of  the  fact  that  in  all  proba- 
bility they  were  in  for  a  fierce  battle  with  an 
unknown  number  of  savage  wolves. 

To  judge  by  their  bowlings  the  wolves  were  still 

a  long  distance  from  the  camp.    The  hearing  of  the 

Indians  is  very  acute,  and  when  the  temperature  is 

down  so  low  that  the  mercury  is  frozen  sounds  are 

259 


^.mT 


W- 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

lieard  very  much  more  distinctly,  and  from  a  greater 
distance,  than  under  ordinary  atmospheric  condi- 
tions. Thus  there  was  fortunately  a  little  time  for 
preparation  ere  they  would  have  to  meet  the  fierce 
assault. 

The  boys  were  each  urged  to  quickly  put  the  har- 
ness on  their  own  dogs  and  bring  them  into  the 
camp,  which  was  rapidly  being  enlarged.  The  old 
dogs,  that  had  a  wholesome  dread  of  wolves,  were, 
it  was  thought,  wise  enough  to  look  after  them- 
selves. Before  even  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  had 
heard  the  wolves  the  old  dogs  had  detected  falling 
on  their  ears  the  melancholy  sound,  and  trembling 
with  fear  they  came  crowding  into  the  camp,  and  to 
the  feet  of  their  different  drivers. 

Trees  were  fallen  all  around,  under  the  vigorous 

blows  of  the  choppers,  and  were  being  cut  into 

lengths  that  could  be  carried  in.    Three  or  four  men 

would  seize  hold  of  these  great  dry  logs  and  speedily 

bring  them  into  the  position  which  they  well  knew 

would  be  to  the  best  advantage.     The  sleds  were 

rearranged,  and  so  placed  that  logs  could  be  piled 

on  them.    The  harnesses  were  all  hung  high,  and 

everything  made  as  secure  as  possible.    Wolves  are 

afraid  of  fire,  and  so  now  it  was  that  on  this  fire  the 

Indians  were  going  mainly  to  depend.    Already  the 

men  had  thrown  a  number  of  fresh  logs  on  the  fire, 

as  well  as  extended  it  out  in  crescent  shape  to  the 

right  and  left.     Behind  the  camp  they  cut  down  a 

number  of  the  trees,  so  placing  them  that  they  made 

a  natural  barricade  as  they  crashed  into  each  other. 

It  was  not  at  all  wolf-proof,  but  it  would  prevent  a 

260 


:,. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


greater 
condi- 
ne  for 
!  fierce 

le  har- 
ito  the 
1ie  old 
,  were, 

them- 
ys  had 
falHng 
mbling 

and  to 

igorous 
lit  into 
ur  men 
speedily 
11  knew 
Is  were 
)e  piled 
y\\,  and 
ves  are 
fire  the 
ady  the 
the  fire, 
t  to  the 
down  a 
;y  made 
other, 
•event  a 


rush  attack,  and  those  bold  enough  to  try  to  venture 
through  could  be  easily  seen  and  shot. 

About  five  hundred  yards  from  the  camp  the  trail 
made  quite  an  ascent  ere  the  camp  was  reached.  Up 
to  the  moment  when  the  wolves  reached  the  top  of 
this  ascent  they  had  traveled  altogether  by  the  strong 
scent  of  the  castoreum  which  is  found  in  the  body  of 
the  beaver,  and  which  had  most  thoroughly  per- 
fumed the  whole  party,  dogs,  men,  and  outfit.  As 
the  brilliant  fire  now  for  the  first  moment  was  seen 
by  them  their  bowlings  suddenly  ceased,  and  it  was 
evident  that  they  were  very  much  perplexed. 

"Bothered  are  you?"  chuckled  Memotas,  as  he 
carefully  examined  his  gun.  "Wanted  beaver,  did 
you,  and  prepared  to  take  it  raw,  and  now  it  looks 
as  though,  if  you  get  it,  you  will  have  to  take  it  hot? 
Well,  come  on  for  it,  if  you  dare." 

These  sarcastic  words  were  helpful  to  the  boys, 
who  had  worked  splendidly  under  Mr.  Ross's  guid- 
ance. There  was  no  doubt  about  it  that  the  boys 
were  excited.  Alec,  whose  fearful  race  against  such 
monsters  came  visibly  before  him,  was  agitated,  yet 
he  bravely  did  everything  desired  of  him,  and  felt 
that  he  was  in  for  another  triumph.  It  is  no  sign 
of  cowardice  to  be  conscious  of  the  danger  to  Le 
faced.  The  bravest  of  the  brave  are  those  who 
realize  the  greatness  of  the  task  before  them  and 
then  unflinchingly  face  it,  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

Unfortunately,   on  this  trip  the  boys  had  not 

brought  with  them  their  guns.     However,  before 

starting  Mr.  Ross  had  seen  that  one  apiece  for  each 

of  his  men,  including  Memotas,  with  abundance  of 

261 


'1: 


^cr^' 


i"    M 
l:  1      '' 


>>u 


0,f 


u 


1l 


r 


:vl 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

ammunition,  was  placed  ii[)on  the  sleds.  The  hunt- 
ers fortunately  had  an  extra  gun  with  them,  and  this 
was  handed  to  Mr.  Ross. 

"I  wonder  what  conspiracy  they  are  hatching 
now,"  said  Memotas,  as  the  wolves  cont*nued  so 
strangely  silent. 

"Nothing  that  bodes  any  good  to  us/'  replied  Mr. 
Ross.  He  had  been  in  critical  positions  like  this  be- 
fore, and  now  as  the  scent  of  battle  once  more  was 
on  him  he  handled  his  gun  with  pleasure  and  re- 
joiced in  the  excitement  of  the  hour.  He  would 
have  been  glad  if  the  boys  had  been  safe  at  Sagasta- 
weekee,  for  as  yet  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  form 
any  estimate  of  their  as  yet  unseen  foes'  numbers, 
or  to  judge  of  the  fierceness  of  the  attack  which 
they  would  shortly  make. 

For  about  half  an  hour  this  strange,  unnatural 
stillness  continued,  and  then  there  broke  upon  their 
ears  a  horrid  din  that  seemed  to  come  from  every 
point  in  the  compass  around  them.  Although  the 
sound  was  some  distance  off,  yet  so  blood-curdling 
was  it  that  the  boys  were  startled,  and  Alec  pulled 
his  fur  cap  down  over  his  ears  in  a  vain  endeavor  to 
shut  out  the  horrid  sounds.  The  dogs  seemed  at 
first  to  try  and  answer  this  noisy  challenge,  but  soon 
their  courage  sadly  oozed  out,  and  they  tremblingly 
huddled  together  in  the  camp,  or  close  to  their 
masters'  feet. 

To  the  boys'  amazement,  the  Indians  unconcern- 
edly put  down  their  guns,  and  taking  up  their  pipes 
began  to  smoke.    Turning  to  the  boys,  Mr.  Ross 

said; 

262 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


"You  had  all  better  lie  down  and  sleep,  for  we  are 
not  going  to  be  troubled  with  the  wolves  for  a  good 
wi:>." 

"VV  hy,  dare  we  do  that,"  said  Frank,  "when  the 
wolves  are  now  all  around  us?" 

**Yes,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "that  last  cry  we  heard  was 
from  different  points  arountl  us,  but  it  was  not  the 
challenge  of  immediate  attack,  but  a  call  sent  out  for 
reinforcements.  Every  wulf  within  ten  miles  of  us 
heard  that  far-reaching  cry,  and  is  galloping  in  this 
direction." 

"That  means,"  said  Sam,  "that  every  wolf  within 
four  hundred  miles  of  us  is  mustering  for  the  fight?" 

"Precisely,"  said  Alec,  "if  you  scjuare  the  circle." 

It  was  rather  trying  for  the  boys  to  be  asked  to  lie 
down  and  go  to  sleep  under  such  circumstances,  yet 
they  promptly  obeyed  the  request  of  those  they  knew 
would  only  give  them  the  best  of  advice.  Strange 
as  it  may  appear  to  some,  our  brave  boys  were  soon 
sound  asleep,  and  when  about  an  hour  after  they 
were  called  up  again  they  found  themselves  re- 
freshed and  doubly  nerved  for  the  coming  conflict. 

The  subdued  bowlings  of  the  wolves  were  again 
distinctly  heard,  and  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  In- 
dians that  they  were  holding  a  big  council  to  decide 
on  the  plan  of  their  attack.  Knowing  so  well  their 
methods,  it  was  th^  opinion  of  them  all  that  the 
heaviest  assault  would  be  on  the  leeward  side,  as 
there  the  wind  carried  the  strong  scent  from  the 
rastor?um  and  the  meat.  To  impede  them  in  their 
rush  if  they  should  try  that  method  of  attack,  a 

couple  of  Indians  with  their  axes  ventured  out  in 

263 


L^'UI 


■  if  I 

i 

R 
11 


r'    iH 


M 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

that  direction  and  cut  down  a  number  of  trees,  which 
they  caused  to  fall  in  such  a  way  that  the  wolves, 
when  approaching,  would  be  delayed  by  them,  and 
thus  render  it  easier  for  them  to  be  shot.  While 
these  men  were  thus  chopping,  in  that  advanced 
position  of  danger,  others  with  loaded  guns  stood 
not  far  behind  as  their  defenders.  However,  they 
were  not  disturbed  except  by  one  skulking  fellow, 
that  was  doubtless  acting  as  a  scout.  When  he  saw 
that  he  was  discovered  he  quickly  retreated  back  in 
the  gloom  of  the  forest. 

The  increasing  din  and  the  more  confident  yelps 
told  the  men,  who,  living  in  the  forest,  had  become 
familiar  with  the  various  sounds  and  calls  of  the 
wild  beasts,  that  reinforcements  were  coming  in,  and 
that  the  attack  would  soon  be  made. 

The  camp  could  muster  ten  guns.  Six  of  these 
were  doubled-barreled,  but  they  were  all  muzzle- 
loaders.  When  the  boys  were  aroused  the  second 
time  they  were  each  given  small-sized  axes  as  their 
weapons  of  defense,  in  case  the  battle  should  reach 
the  camp,  which,  however,  was  not  anticipated.  In 
addition  they  were  expected  to  keep  the  dogs  to- 
gether and  soothe  and  quiet  them  as  much  as 
possible. 

Noticing  some  peculiar  rolls  of  birch  bark  well 
back  from  the  fire,  on  which  Memotas  was  keeping 
a  careful  eye,  Sam  inquired  what  they  were,  and  was 
interested  to  learn  that  they  were  a  kind  of  impro- 
vised hand  grenade,  made  by  Memotas,  to  be  used 
if  the  wolves  should  strive  to  come  too  close.    They 

each  contained  two  or  more  pounds  of  powder,  and 

264 


m 


IN  THE  Grkat  Lone  Land 


well 


if  they  did  but  little  execution  tliey  would  at  least 
add  to  the  noise  and  excitement. 

At  the  request  of  all  the  men  Mr.  Ross  was  ap- 
pointed as  captain,  whose  word  was  to  be  obeyed  by 
all.  I'hat  he  might  be  able  to  wisely  direct  the  men 
to  the  points  where  the  attack  seemed  to  be  most 
directed,  a  scaffold  of  logs  was  hurriedly  erected  on 
the  windward  side  of  the  camp.  So  abundant  was 
the  supply  of  wood  that  the  fire  was  kept  burning  so 
brightly  that  Mr.  Ross,  from  his  elevated  position, 
could  see  quite  a  distance  into  the  forest  in  every 
direction. 

As  was  anticipated,  the  attack  was  made  on  the 
leeward  s:\e  with  a  rush,  and  with  bowlings  that 
were  blood-curdling  the  savage  beasts  in  a  pack 
rushed  forward  as  though  confident  of  success  and 
an  easy  victory.  The  newly  fallen  trees  bothered 
them  but  for  a  moment  as  on  they  rushed.  As  they 
emerged  from  them  the  men  began  firing  at  them 
from  the  point  in  front  of  the  camp  to  which  they 
had  advanced.  As  the  first  volley  from  the  ten  guns 
rang  out  a  number  of  wolves  fell  dead,  while  others, 
badly  wounded,  with  howls  of  pain  quickly  re- 
tieated.  Mr.  Ross  could  see  that  they  met  with  no 
sympathy,  for,  wounded  as  they  were,  they  had  to 
fight  for  their  lives  against  some  of  their  comrades 
that,  having  tasted  the  blood  of  their  wounds,  were 

anxious  to  devour  them. 

In  the  meantime  the  men  with  the  dou':)le-barreled 

gims  kept  picking  off  the  more  venturesome  of  the 

wolves,  while  the  men  with  the  other  guns  rapidly 

loaded  them.     Thus  they  kept  loading  and  firing 

265 


1: 


I 


Iki 


H 


i<  J 


WlNTliU    AlJVENTURES    OF    TlIREE    BOYS 

until  the  (lishcartciied  survivors  drew  back  beyond 
the  range  of  the  light  into  the  darkness  of  the  forest. 
For  a  time  all  that  was  heard  were  the  yelpings 
and  snarlings  of  the  wounded  and  their  assailants. 
These  discordant  cries  seemed  to  amuse  Memotas 
very  much. 

"Ha,  ha !"  said  he,  "you  came  for  beaver,  did  you? 
— with  j)erhaps  a  man  or  boy  or  two  thrown  in ;  and 
now  you  are  content  to  eat  your  brother  wolf's  flesh ! 
You  are  easily  contented,  anyway." 

"Wait,  Memotas,"  said  another  Indian;  "those 
wolves  are  not  through  with  us  yet,  and  it  is  likely 
that  we  will  have  a  bigger  attack  from  them  than 
what  we  already  have  had." 

Quietly  calling  one  of  the  Indians,  who  was  pos- 
sessed of  marvelous  powers  of  vision,  up  on  the 
scaffolding  where  he  was,  Mr.  Ross  called  his  atten- 
tion to  the  stealthy  movements  of  the  wolves.  Keen 
as  were  the  powers  of  vision  possessed  by  Mr.  Ross, 
those  of  this  Indian  were  much  superior,  and  so  he 
at  once  was  able  to  detect  the  wolves  skulking  back 
to  a  point  far  in  the  rear  of  the  camp.  Their  object 
was  to  make  an  attack  from  that  direction.  To  meet 
this  new  movement,  Mr.  Ross  withdrew  most  of  the 
men  from  the  front  and  placed  them  where  they 
would  be  able  to  render  most  effective  service. 
About  a  hundred  feet  or  more  behind  the  camp  stood 
a  very  tall,  dead  balsam  tree.  Seizing  a  large  ax,  and 
calling  another  Indian  to  do  likewise,  Memotas 
rushed  out  with  his  comrade  and  speedily  cut  down 
that  tree,  causing  it  to  fall  directly  from  the  camp. 

Then  taking  his  queer-looking  rolls  of  gunpowder 

266 


IN    Tllli    (JRIIAT    LONK    I.ANU 

in  his  arms,  and  slipping;  his  snowshoes  on  liis  feet, 
he  hurried  hack  to  the  place  where  tiie  top  of  the 
tree  m)\v  lay  upon  the  ground.  This  was  at  the  place 
along  which  the  wolves  would  prohahly  come  when 
they  again  made  their  attack.  Here  \Iemotas  care- 
fully arranged  his  powder-loaded  rolls  of  hirch  hark, 
and  connected  the  fuses  of  each  with  a  heavy  sprink- 
ling of  gun[)owder,  which  reached  to  the  trunk  of 
the  tree.  Then  pulling  the  cork  out  of  a  horn  full  of 
powder,  which  had  heen  slung  on  his  hack,  he  laid 
a  train  on  the  trunk  the  whole  length  of  the  tree. 
Coming  into  the  camp,  as  he  relit  his  pi[)e,  he  coolly 
said  to  the  boys,  "I  think  I  will  give  them  some 
singed  wolf  meat  as  a  change  after  a  while." 

As  was  anticipated,  at  this  point  a  numher  of 
wolves  gathered  to  make  the  attack.  They  cun- 
ningly kept  themselves  as  much  in  the  shadows  of 
the  trees  as  possible,  and  so  were  the  more  difficult 
to  hit.  However,  they  never  got  very  near  the  camp 
until  the  firing  for  a  time  had  to  be  nearly  suspended 
owing  to  the  guns  becoming  too  hot  from  rapid  use. 
This  was  Memotas's  opportunity.  Seeing  a  number 
of  wolves,  emboldened  by  the  apparent  ceasing  of 
the  firing,  coming  on  with  a  rush  toward  the  spot 
where  he  had  placed  his  birch  rolls  of  powder,  he 
boldly  seized  a  flaming  brand  from  the  fire  and 
rushed  out  to  the  spot  where  he  had  stood  when  he 
had  cut  dosvn  the  tree.  As  from  his  position  he 
could  not  very  well  see  the  oncoming  wolves,  he 
waited  for  Mr.  Ross  to  give  him  notice  when  to  fire 
his  little  train  of  gunpowder.    The  instant  the  word 

was  given  he  touched  the  firebrand  to  the  powder, 

267 


Ll''' 


ft' 


I'l 


Ml  ^ 


\\( 


*  I 


-^:]ii 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

and  at  once  rushed  back  to  join  the  other  Indians, 
who  with  their  guns  were  again  ready  for  their  foes. 
Some  of  the  wolves,  more  eager  than  their  comrades, 
had  already  passed  by  the  mii.:  laid  for  them,  and  so 
were  a  little  startled  by  the  spluttering  little  stream 
of  fire  that  passed  them  as  it  made  its  way  along  the 
trunk  of  that  tree.  Carefully  and  well  had  Memotas 
done  his  work,  for  soon  there  was  a  series  of  explo- 
sions mingled  with  yelpings  of  pain  and  terror,  and 
a  number  of  frightened  hairless  and  wounded  wolves 
turned  into  the  forest  and  were  seen  no  more.  A 
forward  rush  of  the  men,  firing  heavily  as  they  ad- 
vanced, completed  the  work,  and  that  strange  battle 
was  over. 

There  was  but  little  rest  or  sleep  for  any  of  the 
party  in  the  camp  during  the  brief  remainder  of  the 
night.  The  fires  were  kept  brightly  burning,  and  in 
turns  the  men  with  guns  loaded  kept  vigilant  watch 
a.i^ainst  their  treacherous  foes.  As  an  extra  precau- 
tion a  gun  was  occasionally  fired,  so  that  any  skulk- 
ing wolf  remaining  in  the  neighborhood  might  know 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  camp  were  on  their  guard 
and  ready  to  renew  the  fight  if  it  were  necessary. 

As  soon  as  it  was  broad  daylight,  escorted  by 
some  of  the  Indians  fully  armed,  Mr.  Ross  and  the 
boys  went  out  on  a  tour  around  what  might  be  called 
the  battle  field.  They  were  surprised  at  not  finding 
more  dead  wolves  than  they  did.  They  were,  how- 
ever, simply  disgusted  at  the  many  evidences  of  the 
rank  cannibalism  of  those  that  had  escaped  the  bul- 
lets.    They  had  without  any  pity  or  remorse  most 

rapidly  devoured  the  dead  and  wounded,  with  the 

268 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

exception  of  those  that  had  been  singed  by  Memo- 
tas's  improvised  fireworks.  So  successful  had  been 
this  explosior  and  so  accurate  the  aim  of  the  men, 
that  several  wolves  of  different  kinds  were  found 
within  a  radius  of  half  a  mile.  Some  had  been  killed 
instantly,  and  so  lay  just  w^here  they  fell.  Others, 
mortally  wounded,  had  managed  to  crawl  away  quite 
a  distance  ere  they  died.  But  of  all  those  that  in  any 
way  had  been  singed  or  burnt  by  the  fire  not  one  had 
been  torn  or  mangled  by  the  survivors.  However, 
such  had  been  the  effects  of  the  fire  upon  them  that 
their  skins  were  valueless  as  fur,  and  so  they  were 
left  undisturbed  where  they  had  fallen. 

A  good  breakfast  was  ready  for  them  all  when 
they  returned  to  the  camp.  Soon  after  it  was  over 
the  sleds  were  again  loaded,  the  dogs  harnessed,  and 
the  journey  once  more  resumed. 

It  had  been  a  memorable  night  for  the  boys.  They 
had  remained  cool  and  collected,  but  alert  and  watch- 
ful. The  conduct  of  the  dogs  rather  humiliated  and 
disappointed  them.  Why  some  of  them  should  act 
so  cow^ardly  and  so  tremble  at  the  bowlings  of  the 
wolves  was  to  them  a  mystery  and  an  annoyance. 
They,  however,  stoutly  declared  that  their  own 
young  trains  growled  and  even  barked  back  their 
defiance  when  the  bowlings  of  the  wolves  were  most 
severe.  At  the  resting  place  where  they  stopped  for 
dinner  they  had  quite  a  discussion  on  the  subject. 
Sam  confessed  that  he  had  been  eager  to  let  the  dogs 
loose  and  then  urge  them  on  to  the  attack.  At  this 
candid  confession  Mr.  Ross  was  much  amused,  and 

said  that  when  a  boy,  long  ago,  traveling  with  his 

269 


41 


iifX 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

father  and  some  Indians,  one  night  in  a  camp  where 
they  were  bothered  by  the  howHngs  of  some  wolves 
he,  against  their  advice,  urged  his  own  splendid  train 
of  young  dogs  to  the  attack.  Only  three  of  them 
managed  to  get  back  to  the  camp,  and  they  were 
in  such  a  wounded,  torn  condition  that  they  were 
worth  but  little  for  weeks.  The  fourth  one  had  been 
devoured  by  the  wolves. 

"As  one  result,"  added  Mr.  Ross,  "I  had  to  walk 
or  run  on  snowshoes  the  rest  of  the  long  journey 
home,  and  as  it  was  over  a  hundred  miles  I  often 
wished  I  had  not  been  so  eager  to  set  my  dogs  on  a 
number  of  great  northern  wolves." 

"What  do  you  think  would  have  happened,"  said 
Alec,  "if  Sam  had  set  the  three  trains  we  boys  are 
driving  on  to  those  wolves  that  attacked  us  last 
nigbc?" 

"I  think,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  with  a  bit  of  a  twinkle 
in  his  eye,  "that  there  vvould  have  been  seen  along 
here  somewhere  three  tired,  down-hearted  boys 
trudging  along  on  snowshoes  and  mourning  the  loss 
of  twelve  splendid  dogs." 

"Well,"  said  Frank,  "I  am  glad  we  did  not  get  up 
a  wolf  fight,  for  this  is  jollier  than  trudging  along 
all  day  on  snowshoes." 

With  a  laugh  he  threw  himself  on  his  dog-sled, 
and  then  with  a  cheer  he  was  first  ofif  on  the  trail 
of  the  guide.  Quickly  the  rest  followed,  and  the 
journey  was  resumed. 

When  the  journey  was  ended,  and  in  after  days 

as  various  incidents  of  this  eventful  trip  were  being 

discussed,  the  boys  were  loth  to  have  to  believe  that 

270 


i    i 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

it  was  running  a  big  risk  to  allow  sleigh  dogs  to 
attack  wolves. 

"What  about  bears?"  said  Sam. 

"There  is  not  one  quarter  the  risk  run  by  dogs  in 
attacking  bears  that  there  is  when  they  venture  to 
assail  wolves,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  "These  big  wolves 
of  the  North  are  generally  in  a  half-starved  condi- 
tion. When  attacked  they  seem  to  know  that  it  is 
for  their  very  life  they  are  fighting,  and  so  they  use 
their  long,  sharp  teeth  and  powerful  jaws  with  the 
greatest  ferocity  imaginable.  Bears,  on  the  con- 
trary, fight  in  an  entirely  different  way.  When  they 
are  assailed  by  dogs  they  very  seldom  if  ever  fasten 
on  them  with  their  teeth  as  do  the  more  vicious 
wolves.  Their  one  great  effort  in  the  conflict  is  to 
seize  hold  of  the  dogs.  If  they  can  once  get  them 
in  the  grip  of  their  long,  strong,  muscular  forearms 
— well,  one  hug  is  all  the  most  powerful  dog  requires 
to  use  him  up  for  that  day.  Fortunate  is  he  if  he  is 
not  killed  by  the  fearful  squeezing  he  has  received. 
Dogs  seem,  by  some  sort  of  instinct,  to  very  quickly 
find  out  where  their  danger  is,  and  so,  unless  they 
are  young  and  inexperienced,  they  will  fight  shy  of 
getting  within  the  reach  of  those  strong  forearms 
that  can  give  such  an  unlovely  hug." 

"How  do  the  clever,  experienced  dogs  attack 
bears?"  asked  Alec. 

"I  am  in  hopes,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "that  before  many 

more  months  you  will  be  able  to  see  for  yourselves, 

but  as  there  is  much  uncertainty  about  all  these 

things,  I  will  try  and  describe  a  battle  we  had  not  a 

mile  away  from  Sagasta-weekee  a  couple  of  years 

271 


t  ("j: 


,;      ^ 


;!»•] 


fn! 


«■  •;,!. 


(! 


li 


Ml 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

ago.  We  had  brought  some  young  pigs  out  from 
the  Selkirk  country,  and  had  them  well  housed  in  a 
warm  pen,  around  which  was  erected  a  high,  strong 
stockade.  We  knew  that  bears  were  fond  of  pork, 
and  were  also  aware  of  the  fact  that  they  were  good 
climbers,  but  with  all  our  experience  of  them  we 
never  imagined  that  they  would  attempt  to  scale  that 
high  stockade  and  try  to  steal  uur  pigs.  But  they 
did,  and  with  a  certain  measure  of  success.  Without 
alarming  the  dogs,  or  even  any  of  the  several  Indians 
about  the  place,  they  succeeded  in  climbing-over  that 
high  stockade,  and  each  bear — for  there  were  three 
of  them — grabbed  a  pig,  each  one  weighing  perhaps 
fifty  pounds,  and  succeeded  in  getting  back  over  the 
stockade  and  off  for  the  woods  ere  the  loud  squeal- 
ings  of  the  frightened  young  porkers  gave  them 
away.  Of  course,  we  were  instantly  aroused  by  these 
unusual  noises,  and  at  once  suspecting  the  cause,  I 
gave  instant  orders  that  the  dogs  that  were  at  home 
should  be  immediately  let  out  of  their  kennels  and 
put  on  to  the  trail  of  the  bears.  As  soon  as  possible 
a  number  of  us  quickly  followed.  Fortunately  for 
us,  the  morning  had  so  advanced  that  there  was  suf- 
ficient light  for  us  to  see  our  way.  We  had  no 
trouble  in  reference  to  the  direction  in  which  to  go, 
as  the  squealings  of  the  pigs  and  the  excited  bark- 
ings of  the  dogs  were  quite  sufficient  to  guide  us. 
When  we  reached  them  we  beheld  a  sight  that  made 
the  most  stoical  of  my  Indians  laugh.  Here  we 
found  the  three  bears  brought  to  bay.  Each  one  of 
them  was  bravely  holding  in  one  forearm,  as  a 

mother  does  a  child,  one  of  the  stolen  pigs,  while 

272 


i\v 


n 


\ 


■i!i 


If 


The  Bear  Still  Holding  On  to  His  Pig. 


't 


'il 

,  ij 

p 

^- 

H 

.) 

If 


I 


lli^ii 


•i 

i'. 


{■ "  I 


Ill 


!^  W 


J? 

!     f 


I 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


with  h's  other  forepaw  he  was  giving  resounding 
whacks  to  every  dog  that  was  rash  enough  to  come 
within  r?nge.  My  largest  sleigh  dogs  were  still  out 
with  Kinesasis  at  their  summer  home,  and  so  the 
hears  were  more  able  to  repel  the  attacks  of  these 
much  smaller  ones.  Still  there  were  some  plucky 
ones  among  the  dozen  or  so  in  this  pack,  and  they 
knew  how  to  fight  bears  when  they  had  them  on  the 
run.  But  they  were  bothered  to  know  what  to  do 
with  these  big  fellows,  sitting  here  with  their  backs 
against  a  tree  and  a  noisy  pig  in  one  forearm  while 
they  used  the  other  like  a  terrible  boxer. 

"From  a  distance  we  wat  ed  for  a  time  the  pecu- 
liar conflict,  and  perhaps  would  have  done  so  longer 
if  it  had  not  been  that  we  saw  one  of  my  pet  dogs, 
a  very  courageous  little  fellow,  make  a  too  venture- 
some rush  and  get  within  the  sweep  of  that  great 
arm.  Suddenly  the  bear  dragged  him  in,  and  al- 
though the  plucky  fellow  tried  to  use  his  teeth,  it  was 
of  no  use.  The  bear  hugged  him  to  himself  with 
such  a  crushing  grip  that  the  poor  dog's  ribs  were 
broken  like  clay  pipestems.  Then  suddenly  the  dog 
was  flung  quite  a  distance  to  one  side. 

"We  did  not  want  to  see  any  more  valuable  dogs 
thus  treated,  and  so  we  at  once  pushed  forward. 
When  the  alert  bears  saw  us  approaching  they  at 
once  started  for  the  distant  woods.  Now  the  ad- 
vantage was  all  with  the  dogs.  It  was  very  comical 
to  see  the  desperate  efforts  made  by  those  bears  to 
hold  on  to  those  pigs,  and  also  to  fight  the  dogs  and 
to  keep  up  their  retreat.  Experienced  dogs  know 
that  the  tenderest  spot  in  a  bear  is  the  tendon  of  his 

l8  273 


m 


,,)/ 


:■) 


m 


¥4\ 


I'. 


fiETr^- 


w- 


ImI' 


m 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

hind  leg,  and  so  that  is  where  they  try  to  seize  hold 
of  him.  Two  clever  dogs  are  all  that  are  necessary 
to  delay  until  the  hunters  come  up  the  largest  black 
bears  in  our  country.  It  does  not  depend  very  much 
on  the  size  of  the  dogs.  Indeed,  large  dogs  are 
rather  at  a  disadvantage,  as  it  is  harder  for  them  to 
get  out  of  the  range  of  the  bear  when  he  turns  upon 
them.  In  this  fight  all  my  dogs  did  was  to  assail 
each  bear  in  front  and  rear.  While  the  dog  in  front 
kept  up  a  vigorous  barking  as  close  to  Iiis  nose  as  it 
was  safe  to  ventu'*e,  the  dog  in  the  rear,  watching  his 
opportunity,  sprang  in  and  gave  him  a  severe  nip  in 
the  tender  spot  in  his  hind  leg.  This,  of  course, 
could  not  be  put  up  with,  and  so  the  bear,  still  hold- 
ing on  to  his  pig,  quickly  whirled  arouiid  to  repel 
this  second  assailant.  The  instant  he  did  so  the 
clever  dog  that  had  been  in  front,  but  w?s  now  in  the 
rear,  instantly  sprang  in  and  caught  the  bear  in  the 
same  tender  spot.  This,  of  course,  brought  the  bear 
back  again  to  him,  but  he  was  too  clever  to  hang  on, 
and  having  done  his  work  he  quickly  sprang  out  of 
the  reach  of  those  dreaded  paws.  Seeing  the  bear 
once  more  turned  from  him,  the  other  dog  again 
dashed  in  and  gave  him  another  severe  bite  in  the 
same  place.  Thus  it  was  that  the  dogs,  while  not 
daring  to  close  with  such  large  bears,  were  yet  able 
to  keep  them  from  escaping  until  we  came  up  and 
shot  them." 

"What  about  the  pigs  ?"  said  Frank. 

"They  were  alive,  and  not  much  the  worse  for 

their  queer  adventure,  although  for  some  days  they 

seemed  dull  and  sore,"  was  the  reply. 

274 


YS 

ize  hold 
ecessary 
;st  black 
ry  much 
logs  are 
them  to 
■ns  upon 
to  assail 
in  front 
osc  as  it 
:hing  his 
re  nip  in 
:  course, 
till  hold- 
to  repel 
:1  so  the 
)w  in  the 
ar  in  the 
the  bear 
bang  on, 
g  out  of 
the  bear 
g  again 
te  in  the 
^hile  not 
yet  able 
i  up  and 


^orse  for 
ays  they 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


H 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A  Bear  Hunt  in  Winter — Mustagan  a  Famous  Indian  Guide 
— Bears'  Den — How  Discovered — Boys'  Perplexity — The 
Journey  to  the  Den — A  Cold  Morning — The  Telltale  Column 
of  Steam — The  Attempt  to  Dig  Down  to  the  Bears — Total 
Failure — Succes.;ful  Tunneling  Operations — Exciting  Fight  in 
the  Icy  Cavern — The  Battles  Between  the  Men  and  Dogs  and 
the  Escaping  Bears. 

A  BEAR  hunt  in  winter!  No  wonder  the  boys 
were  excited  when  they  heard  of  it.  Yes,  that  was 
what  it  was.  and  a  very  interesting  one  at  that. 

Mustagan  was  a  famous  hunter,  as  we  have  al- 
ready seen.  In  addition  to  that,  he  was  a  wonderful 
guide,  and  had  also  been  a  great  traveler.  He  had 
gone  several  times  on  great  expeditions  to  the  Arc- 
tic Ocean.  He  was  with  Sir  John  Richardson  on  his 
memorable  search  for  Sir  John  Franklin.  He  had 
also  gone  with  Dr.  Rae  and  others  on  similar  Arctic 
exploring  trips.  Then  this  Mustagan  was  the  old 
Cree  Indian  who  found  the  silver  spoons  and  other 
remains  of  Sir  John  Franklin  among  the  Eskimos. 
Their  recovery  gave  the  final  definite  knowledge  of 
the  tragic  ending  of  that  memorable  expedition. 
These  relics  of  that  sad  expedition,  in  which  about 
a  hundred  and  forty  of  the  bravest  of  men  perished, 
some  of  whom  might  have  been  saved  if  Paulette 
had  been  true,  are  now  in  the  Greenwich  Museum. 

But  although  Mustagan  had  been  long  years  thus 

employed  he  was  yet  in  the  full  vie:or  of  life,  and  as 

275 


i 


;  fit ' 


■^.:; 


i'^ 


Winter  Adventlres  ok  Three  Boys 


'X  - 


,  *>  < 


f' 

s    ■ 

1    ■          , 

■  1 

J" 

1 

a  hunter  was  unexcelled.  He  was,  like  Big  Tom, 
particularly  noted  for  his  skill  as  a  moose  hunter, 
and  it  was  when  o\  ihe  tracks  of  a  moose  that  he 
made  the  singular  discovery  that  led  to  this  bear 
hunt  in  winter.  When  he  came  over  to  Sagasta- 
weekee  with  the  news  that  he  had  some  rare  sport 
for  the  boys  they  were,  of  course,  full  of  curiosity 
to  get  all  the  information. 

During  the  previous  summer  they  had  all  had 
their  peculiar  experiences  in  bear  fights,  but  this 
finding  of  bears  in  winter  was  a  revelation,  as  they 
were  always  taught  that  the  bears,  especially  in  cold 
countries,  hibernate  during  the  winter ;  that  is,  that 
they  den  up  in  some  quiet  retreat  in  the  rocks,  if 
possible,  and  there  remam  in  a  semi-unconscious 
condition  for  months  together.  They  generally  go 
in  very  fat,  and  on  this  fat  they  keep  alive  all  winter. 

"Is  it  true,"  said  Sam  to  Mustagan,  ''that  a  bear 
sucks  his  paws  like  a  baby  does  his  thumb?" 

"That  is  what  is  believed  by  the  Indians,"  said  the 
old  man.  "But,"  he  added,  with  a  bit  of  a  twinkle  in 
his  eye,  "I  don't  remember  any  one  of  us  ever  having 
sat  up  to  watch  one  doing  it." 

"How  in  the  world  did  you  find  out  where  this 
bear's  den  is  which  you  are  inviting  us  to  see?"  said 
Alec. 

"Perhaps,"  said  Frank,  "he  marked  it  in  the  fall, 
like  other  Indians  mark  their  beavers'  houses." 

"No,  indeed,"  said  Mustagan.    "I  never  thought 

of  one  being  in  that  place  until  I  found  it  by  the 

steam." 

Here  was  a  bigger  mystery  than  ever. 

"^276 


YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


ig  Tom, 
hunter, 
e  that  he 
his  bear 
Sagasta- 
ire  sport 
curiosity 

all  had 
but  this 
,  as  they 
y  in  cold 
it  is,  that 
rocks,  if 
conscious 
erally  go 
11  winter, 
at  a  bear 

'  said  the 
winkle  in 
er  having 

^here  this 
,ee?"  said 

1  the  fall, 
ses." 

r  thought 
it  by  the 


"Steam !"  said  Sam ;  "and  where  was  the  engine?" 

"Down  deep  under  the  snow  in  a  tlcn  amung  the 
rocks,"  was  the  answer  given. 

This  did  not  clear  up  the  mystery,  but  rather 
added  to  their  curiosity. 

"How  far  away  is  it?"  asked  Mr.  Ross. 

"One  day's  journey,"  said  Mustagan. 

So  it  was  decided  that  on  the  following  Tuesday, 
if  the  weather  continued  bright  and  fine,  the  start 
would  be  made  very  early  from  Sagasta-weekee. 

"No  use  going  then,"  said  Mcmotas,  "if  the  days 
are  not  bright  and  cold.  No  see  any  steam  if  no 
sunshine." 

This  was  a  great  perplexity  to  the  boys,  and  they 
appealed  to  Mr.  Ross  to  help  them  out.  But  he 
wished  them  to  have  the  real  surprise  that  Mustagan 
had  in  store  for  them,  and  so  he  told  them  to  wait 
until  they  could  see  it  for  ther  lelves,  when  on  the 
ground. 

The  weather  was  everything  that  could  be  desired. 
On  Monday  four  trains  of  dogs,  with  a  full  camping 
outfit  and  plenty  of  supplies  to  last  for  five  or  six 
days,  were  prepared.  The  boys  took  their  guns 
along  with  them  and  plenty  of  ammunition.  They 
were  going  to  have  their  share  of  shooting  if  there 
was  any  to  be  done.  Mustagan,  with  a  couple  of  his 
sons  and  two  dog-sleds,  arrived  very  early,  and  the 
whole  party  started  while  the  stars  were  still  shin- 
ing. One  of  Mustagan's  sons,  who  had  been  with 
the  old  man  when  the  den  w^as  discovered,  ran  on 
ahead  of  the  trains  as  guide.    As  the  trail  had  been 

made  by  Mustagan  and  his  son  when  they  returned 

277 


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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

after  the  discovery  of  the  hears,  this  made  the  travel- 
ing more  rapid  and  agretahle. 

Three  or  four  times  during  the  day's  journey  they 
stopped,  and  cutting  down  some  dry  trees  made  up  a 
big  roaring  fire,  at  wliich  they  warmed  themselves 
and  cooked  a  hearty  meal.  About  an  hour  before 
sundown  they  reached  the  place.  As  it  was  too  late 
to  do  anything  that  evening  in  the  way  of  bear 
hunting,  it  was  decided  to  make  the  camp  and  have 
a  good  night's  rest.  This  was  not  as  easy  a  matter 
as  it  had  been  in  some  other  places.  There  was  not 
at  any  one  spot  sufficient  dry  wood  for  a  good  camp, 
especially  if  they  should  be  attacked  by  wolves  and 
thus  require  for  their  safety  a  good  bright  fire  all 
night.  However,  the  matter  was  arranged  by  mak- 
ing the  dogs  help.  They  were  unfastened  from  their 
sleds,  and  while  some  of  the  men  cut  down  the  dry 
trees,  wherever  they  could  be  found,  the  boys  and 
one  or  two  men  hitched  their  dogs  to  them  and 
dragged  them  to  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  where 
they  were  speedily  cut  up  into  the  desired  lengths. 
There  were  numbers  of  green  balsams  around,  and 
so  some  of  these  were  cut  down  and  so  arranged  as 
to  be  helpful  in  keeping  ofif  the  cold  winds.  The 
frozen  fish  were  thawed  for  the  dogs,  and  then  some 
of  the  men  prepared  the  usual  supper,  which  con- 
sisted of  the  fattest  meat  that  could  be  obtained. 
Prayers  were  offered  after  the  Evening  Hymn  had 
been  sung,  the  beds  of  fur  robes  and  blankets  were 
made,  and  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  were  soon  very 
thoroughly  tucked  in.     Nothing  unusual  disturbed 

them  in  the  night,  although  some  of  the  men  had  an 

278 


DYS 

lie  travel- 

rney  they 
riade  up  a 
lemselves 
Lir  before 
s  too  late 
'  of  bear 
and  have 
a  matter 
e  was  not 
)od  camp, 
olves  and 
lit  fire  all 
I  by  mak- 
rom  their 
n  the  dry 
boys  and 
;hem  and 
ip,  where 
1  lengths. 
)und,  and 
ranged  as 
ids.     The 
hen  some 
hich  con- 
obtained, 
ymn  had 
kets  were 
)Oon  very 
disturbed 
en  had  an 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

uneasy  half  hour,  as  the  dismal  bowlings  of  a  soli- 
tary wolf  in  the  distance  could  l)e  distinctly  heard. 
The  mournful  sounds  at  length  died  away,  and  the 
men  again  went  to  sleep. 

As  they  were  retiring  Mustagan  told  the  boys  that 
the  steam  would  be  going  best  just  after  sunrise,  and 
so  they  had  better  all  be  up  early  and  after  a  good 
warm  cup  of  tea  and  something  to  eat  be  off  to  see 
it  and  then  return  to  breakfast.  Then  he  said,  "After 
that  we  will  find  out  what  makes  the  steam." 

There  was  only  the  faintest  glimmer  of  the  com- 
ing dawn  when  the  boys  were  called  up.  My,  but  it 
was  cold  that  morning!  How  the  lads  did  shiver! 
Wistfully  they  looked  back  at  the  warm  robes  and 
blankets  which  the  men  were  rapidly  rolling  up. 
Gladly  would  they  have  tumbled  under  them  again, 
the  cold  was  so  terrible.  It  must  have  been  at  least 
fifty  below  zero.  It  seemed  to  chill  them  to  the  very 
marrow  of  their  bones.  Their  teeth  chattered.  The 
tears  in  their  eyes  froze  into  ice.  The  breath  touch- 
ing their  fur  caps,  or  capotes,  instantly  became  white 
and  shining.  Well  was  it  for  them  that  the  fire  was 
brightly  burning  ere  they  were  called.  Speedily 
were  seats  of  rolls  of  blankets  prepared  for  them, 
and  here,  with  a  big  bufifalo  skin  thrown  around  each 
one  as  an  additional  protection,  they  were  seated  as 
close  to  the  fire  as  it  was  possible  to  get  without  set- 
ting their  clothes  or  robes  on  fire.  How  warming 
and  delicious  was  the  tea  that  morning! — well 
sweetened,  and  with  a  lump  of  cream  in  it.  Cup 
after  cup  was  taken,  and  soon  the  bitter  cold  was 

forgotten. 

379 


% 


't 


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h 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Buys 

"Very  cold  morning,"  said  Mustagan.  "Take 
good  breakfast  now,  then  another  good  one  will  be 
ready  when  we  come  back  from  seeing  the  steam." 

With  all  the  clothing  that  could  well  be  worn  con- 
sistent with  rapid  snowshoeing  the  party  soon  set 
off.  Their  direction  from  the  camp  was  due  south. 
As  far  as  the  boys  could  make  out  the  region  was 
full  of  great  rocky  ravines.  But  the  snow  covered 
everything,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  high  winds 
had  caused  enormous  quantities  to  drift  into  the 
hollows  and  ravines.  Mr.  Ross  and  Mustagan  were 
in  front,  while  the  boys  and  some  Indians  were  not 
far  behind.  All  at  once  Mustagan,  who  had  been 
on  the  alert,  called  Mr.  Ross's  attention  to  an  object 
which  at  first  was  to  him  more  imaginary  than  real. 
Sharp  as  were  his  eyes,  he  was  asked  to  look  upon 
what  to  him  was  at  present  invisible  and  intangible. 
The  party  had  all  now  stopped,  and  each  one  was 
endeavoring  to  see  what  already  seemed  so  real  to 
Mustagan. 

"O,  I  see  it!"  shouted  Alec  and  Sam  together. 
"See,  as  the  sun's  rays  fall  upon  it,  it  shines  like  a 
small  bit  of  a  rainbow." 

"Yes,"  said  Frank,  "I  see  it,  like  a  thin  column  of 
steam  lit  up  by  the  morning  sun." 

Then  it  was  visible  to  all.    For  as  the  sun  arose  a 

little  higher,  and  its  full  rays  fell  on  it,  at  the  right 

angle  to  the  spot  where  our  party  now  stood,  there  it 

was,  clear  and  distinct,  a  tiny  spiral  column  of  steam 

rising  up  in  the  clear  cold  air  from  a  great  snowy 

expanse.    There  was  not  a  sign  of  a  tree  or  of  a  den. 

Then  Alustagan  explained  that  there  was  a  deep 

280 


OYS 


IN    THE    (iREAT    LoNE    LaND 


1.    'Take 
le  will  be 
e  steam." 
vorn  con- 
soon  set 
[tie  south, 
gion  was 
V  covered 
g\\  winds 
into  the 
Lgan  were 
were  not 
had  been 
an  object 
than  real, 
ook  upon 
itangible. 
one  was 
5o  real  to 

together, 
les  like  a 

:olumn  of 

n  arose  a 
the  right 

1,  there  it 
of  steam 

at  snowy 
of  a  den. 

s  a  deep 


ravine  full  of  the  snow,  and  at  the  bottom  of  it  some 
bears  had  made  their  winter's  nest  in  the  fall. 
Whether  they  had  much  of  a  den  or  not  he  did  not 
know.  They  would  find  that  out  when  they  dug 
them  out.  Anyway,  here  they  were  under  many 
feet  of  snow.  The  breathing  caused  the  snow  to 
melt  around  them  and  above  them,  until  it  formed 
an  icy  crystal  roof.  Then,  as  they  went  on  breathing 
and  breathing,  by  and  by  in  a  little  opening  it  found 
its  way  through  the  crust  and  through  the  fine  snow, 
until  it  made  a  small  chimney  all  the  way  up  to  the 
top;  and  then  he  added,  "There  it  comes  out,  as  you 
see  it  now." 

Carefully  they  all  walked  up  to  the  spot.  The 
opening  was  not  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter.  It 
was  hardly  perceptible.  The  little  bit  of  steam  froze 
into  the  tiniest  particles  of  ice,  which  were  invisible 
except  when  the  sun's  bright  rays  shone  on  them. 
It  was  a  great  curiosity  to  the  boys.  "How  many 
feet  below  us  are  the  bears?"  asked  Sam,  in  tones  so 
subdued  that  everybody  laughed.  But  the  fact  that 
only  a  lot  of  light  snow  separated  him  from  he  knevy 
not  how  many  savage  bears  had  a  tendency  to  make 
him  a  little  nervous,  and  hence  his  whispered  ques- 
tion. Glancing  over  the  landscape,  and  taking  notice 
of  the  hills  in  the  distance  and  the  amount  of  country 
that  the  storm  had  swept  over,  Mustagan  and  Mr. 
Ross  came  to  the  conclusion  that  betv;een  twenty 
and  thirty  feet  of  snow  were  between  them  and  the 
icy  cave  where  these  bears  were  drowsily  sleeping 
away  the  long  winter  months.    After  some  further 

investigation,  and  a  talk  about  the  best  way  of  get- 

281 


tV 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


ir 


h. 


n.\ 


[I  , 


'  ? 


I       ! 


ting  down  to  those  bears,  the  party  returned  to  camp 
for  breakfast. 

The  snowshoe  run  back  was  a  vigorous  one,  and 
enjoyed  on  account  of  the  cold.  The  second  break  fast 
was  dispatched,  and  the  plans  talked  over  for  getting 
down  to  the  bears.  If  the  snow  should  be  found 
light  and  dry  quite  a  distance  down  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  dig  a  well-like  hole  down  to  them.  If 
the  wind  had  packed  the  snow  hard  as  it  filled  up  the 
ravine  it  would  be  an  easy  matter.  If  it  were  found 
impracticable  to  get  to  them  that  way,  then  they 
would  have  to  tunnel  in  from  below,  in  the  valley, 
until  they  reached  them.  A  tunnel  can  always  be 
dug  in  deep  snow,  as  the  pressure  of  the  mass  above 
sufficiently  hardens  the  snow  near  the  ground  to 
make  it  quite  possible  to  accomplish  the  work.  Thus 
they  discussed  various  plans,  and  then  decided  to  go 
and  begin  operations  on  what  seemed  the  best  way 
when  they  reached  the  spot. 

Axes,  ropes,  a  big  baglike  bucket  for  hauling  up 
snow,  snowshovels,  and  other  things  considered 
necessary  were  taken  along  on  a  couple  of  dog-trains 
to  the  spot  where  the  steam  was  quite  visible,  now  that 
it  had  been  discovered.  After  some  consultation  it 
was  decided  to  go  to  a  cluster  of  trees  not  far  off  and 
cut  down  a  number  of  them  and  build  a  kind  of  plat- 
form on  the  snow  directly  over  the  steam  orifice,  and 
then  commence  the  work  of  digging  down  to  the  den 
below. 

Soon  all  were  busy.    The  men  cut  down  the  trees, 

and  the  boys  claimed  the  honor  of  driving  the  dogs 

that  dragged  the  logs  to  the  place  where  they  were 

282 


m 


OYS 

i  to  camp 

one,  and 
breakfast 
)r  getting 
be  found 
lid  be  im- 
them.  If 
led  up  the 
ere  found 
then  they 
he  valley, 
ilways  be 
ass  above 
ground  to 
rk.  Thus 
ded  to  go 

best  way 

auling  up 
onsidered 
log-trains 
,  now  that 
Itation  it 
ir  off  and 
d  of  plat- 
■ifice,  and 
0  the  den 

the  trees, 
the  dogs 
hey  were 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

to  be  used.  As  the  snow  over  the  bears'  den  was  so 
very  deep  the  boys  had  to  keep  on  their  snowshoes 
all  the  time.  It  was  very  difficult  at  first  for  the  dogs 
to  get  along,  but  after  the  snowshoes  had  tramped 
out  the  trail  a  few  times  the  snow  then  easily  held 
them  up. 

The  log  platform  was  built,  and  in  the  large  space 
left  cleared  in  the  center,  which  was  about  eight  feet 
square,  the  work  of  digging  was  commenced.  When 
all  the  snow  was  thrown  out  that  could  be  reached 
with  the  long-handled  snowshovels  a  rude  windlass 
was  made,  and  then  the  leather  baglike  bucket  was 
brought  into  requisition,  and  the  work  went  on  as 
fast  as  it  was  possible  to  haul  up  the  snow  and  have 
it  dragged  away  on  the  dog-sleds.  When  the  well- 
like hole  was  down  about  fifteen  feet,  and  they  were 
congratulating  themselves  that  at  least  half  of  the 
work  was  accomplished,  there  was  a  sudden  collapse. 
The  whole  thing  had  caved  in  and  carried  down  the 
platform  and  all  to  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten  feet. 
Nobody  was  badly  hurt.  The  two  men  who  were  in 
the  bottom  at  the  time,  busily  filling  up  the  leather 
bucket,  were  hit  with  some  of  the  falling  logs  and 
nearly  buried  in  the  avalanche  of  snow  that  seemed 
to  them  to  come  from  every  quarter  above  them. 
Those  who  had  tumbled  in  were  more  scared  than 
hurt.  The  difficulty  now  was  to  get  the  men  ou^.  as 
the  sides  were  so  light  and  yielding. 

"Use  the  dogs  to  do  it,"  said  Frank.    And  quickly 

a  strong  rope  was  tied  to  an  empty  sled  and  it  was 

let  down  to  the  first  man.    A  strong  dog-train  was 

attached  to  the  other  end  of  the  rope. 

283 


',-,;;i 


1     _  ;■  .11:    ■ 


r 


IV.! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


I'll 


'I  ! 


J     ■! 


**Marche!"  was  shouted,  and  away  went  the  dogs, 
and  soon  there  emerged  one  of  the  men  who  had 
fallen  in.  Quickly  was  he  rescued,  and  speedily  this 
operation  was  repeated  until  the  dogs  had  dragged 
out  all  therein  imprisoned. 

All  this  work  had  gone  for  nothing.  Some  other 
plan  must  be  devised.  Half  a  day's  work  gone  and 
nothing  to  show  for  it.  This  was  rather  discour- 
aging. 

"What  is  to  be  tried  next?"  was  asked  by  several. 

"Dinner  is  next,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  And  so  away 
they  hurried  back  to  camp,  and  there  while  eating 
their  well-earned  meal  they  talked  over  the  next  at- 
tempt, and  decided  to  go  down  where  the  ravine 
ended  out  on  a  level  place  and  there  begin  tunneling. 

When  they  came  back  and  examined  the  spot  and 
measured  the  drift  ihey  found  that  in  order  to  get 
low  enough  to  reach  the  bears  they  would  have  to 
tunnel  at  least  two  hundred  feet.  This  meant  a  lot 
of  heavy  work.  But  they  were  there  to  get  those 
bears,  and  were  bound  to  succeed.  At  first  they  dug 
away  the  snow  like  a  deep  trench,  until  they  reached 
a  place  where  it  was  too  deep  to  be  thrown  out,  and 
then  the  work  of  tunneling  really  began.  To  their 
delight,  they  found  when  they  had  gone  some  way 
in  that  the  pressure  of  the  immense  mass  of  snow 
upon  the  lower  portion  had  so  packed  it  that  it  would 
not  require  supports,  as  has  already  been  referred 
to. 

They  worked  in  relays  with  their  big  shovels,  and 

cut  the  snow  out  in  great  pieces,  which  were  dragged 

away  by  the  dogs  as  fast  as  the  sleds  could  be  loaded. 

284 


II 


OYS 

the  dogs, 

who  had 

edily  this 

dragged 

>me  other 

gone  and 

discour- 

y  several. 

so  away 

ile  eating 

2  next  at- 

lie  ravine 

unneling. 

;  spot  and 

ler  to  get 

1  have  to 

sant  a  lot 

get  those 

they  dug 

y  reached 

out,  and 

To  their 

ome  way 

of  snow 

it  would 

referred 

)vels,  and 
dragged 
)e  loaded. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

That  evening,  when  they  stopped  work,  they  esti- 
mated that  they  had  cut  ahout  lialf  the  way  into  the 
bears'  den.  Then  they  returned  to  the  camp  for 
supper  and  rest,  and  hoped  to  Ije  able  to  finish  their 
work  on  the  morrow. 

That  night  there  was  a  most  beautiful  display  of 
the  aurora  borealis.  Their  ever-changing  glories 
delighted  and  so  fascinated  the  boys  that  they  were 
loth  to  cover  up  their  heads  in  their  camp  beds. 
These  wondrous  visions  in  the  North  Land  exceed 
in  weird  beauty  anything  else  that  this  wide  world 
can  show. 

Mr.  Ross  was  so  anxious  that  they  should  get  thi 
bears  to-day,  so  that  the  whole  party  could  begin 
the  return  journey  to-morrow,  that  he  had  them  all 
up  at  such  an  early  hour  that  they  were  eating  break- 
fast by  starlight.  Just  as  the  sun  rose,  and  the  In- 
dians w^ere  calling,  ''Sagastao!  Sagastao!"  ("The 
sun  rises!")  to  each  other,  they  were  already  at  the 
tunnel,  anxious  to  resume  operations.  They  had  to 
be  careful  now  to  so  run  the  tunnel  that  they  would 
directly  strike  the  bears.  So  while  the  men  were 
digging  Mr.  Ross  and  Mustagan  were  constantly 
traveling  on  their  snowshoes  with  a  compass  to  try 
and  help  the  diggers,  who  were  rapidly  pushing  on 
their  work. 

The  boys  could  hardly  understand  how  it  was  that 
it  could  be  so  cozy  and  comfortable  in  the  tunnel 
while  outside  the  cold  was  so  terrible.  To  their  sur- 
prise, they  here  learned  that  there  was  warmth  even 
in  a  snow  tunnel.     While  thus  digging  away  and 

dragging  out  the  loads,  all  at  once  the  dogs  became 

285 


.•1 


m 


I'l'.' 


I  I 

I 


i'i 


i-1  l-l 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

very  much  excited,  and  began  barking  furiously. 
Su«ipecting  that  it  was  because  of  the  scent  of  the 
bears,  which  passes  a  long  distance  through  the 
snow,  the  guns  and  some  axes  were  immediately  sent 
for. 

*  Did  you  ever  shoot  a  bear?"  said  Mustagan  to 
Sam. 

"I  was  chased  by  one  once,"  said  Sam,  with  a 
laugh.  "But  I  fancy  I  got  even  v/ith  him  before  the 
summer  ended." 

"O  yes,"  said  Mustagan,  with  a  comical  grin,  "I  do 
remember  now  a  boy  coming  running  into  the  camp 
with  a  bear  at  his  heels.  That's  why  your  hair  stands 
up  so  straight  ever  since." 

Poor  Sam,  whose  hair  had  a  natural  tendency  to 
stand  on  ends,  said  he  thought  he  had  heard  enough 
of  that  bear  story  of  his,  and  so  was  about  blaming 
the  old  Indian  for  being  too  hard  on  him,  when  he 
was  astonished  at  hearing  him  say : 

"I  want  you  to  be  the  first  to  walk  into  that  bears* 
den  with  me.  Mr.  Bear  chased  you  once.  You 
killed  some  of  his  relatives  since  then,  but  he  has 
lots  of  brothers,  and  perhaps  some  of  them  are  in 
this  den,  and  so  now  is  your  chance  to  teach  them  a 
lesson  for  one  of  their  relatives  making  your  hair 
stand  up  straight.  Fact  is,"  added  the  old  Indian, 
who  had  never  seen  a  person  with  his  hair  standing 
up  like  Sam's,  "Indian  thinks  you  will  have  to  keep 
killing  bears  until  your  hair  gets  over  its  scare  and 
lies  down  flat  again." 

This  bit  of  humor  from  Mustagan  amused  every- 

bodv,  and  Sam  himself  joined  heartily  in  the  laugh. 

286 


J I J    1 


if 


^OYS 

furiously, 
snt  of  the 
*ough  the 
lately  sent 

istagan  to 

Ti,  with  a 
before  the 

grin,  "I  do 
>  the  camp 
lair  stands 

:ndency  to 
rd  enough 
it  blaming 
when  he 

:hat  bears' 
nee.  You 
ut  he  has 
em  are  in 
ch  them  a 
your  hair 
d  Indian, 
•  standing 
/e  to  keep 
scare  and 

;ed  every- 
:he  laugh. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Thus  they  chatted  until  the  guns  and  axes  arrived. 
Then  the  work  was  vigorously  pursued.  The  tunnel 
was  dug  in  further  and  further,  as  fast  as  tb*^  snow 
could  be  hauled  out.  Every  time  the  dogs  came  in 
with  their  empty  sleds  they  were  permitted  to  remain 
a  few  minutes  to  scent  the  bears.  As  they  had 
quieted  down  after  their  first  noisy  actions  it  was 
decided  that  they  were  still  a  good  way  off  from  the 
bears. 

As  a  precautionary  measure  Memotas  went  out 
and  cut  a  long,  slim  pole,  which  was  about  twenty 
feet  long.  This  he  pushed  in  through  the  snow 
ahead  of  the  diggers.  By  this  plan  he  was  able  to 
guard  against  any  surprise,  for  he  had  stated  to  Mr. 
Ross  that  as  the  snow  was  so  deep  the  den  would  be 
found  very  warm,  and  he  would  not  be  surprised  if 
they  found  the  bears  so  wide-awake  that  they  would 
have  a  bit  of  a  fight  with  them  ere  they  killed  them. 
When  this  was  heard  it  added  much  to  the  excite- 
ment of  the  whole  party,  and  so  while  everyone 
worked  with  a  will  they  were  all  on  the  alert  for 
some  sudden  developments. 

After  Mustagan  had  pushed  in  the  pole  two  or 
three  times  and  found  nothing  but  the  ordinary 
snow,  which  was  being  rapully  dug  away,  he  at 
length  struck  against  something  hard,  which  was 
about  fifteen  feet  in  from  the  end  of  the  now  long 
tunnel.  When  the  dogs  came  in  for  their  last  loads 
Mustagan  pulled  out  the  pole  and  let  the  dogs  put 
their  noses  to  the  opening.  They  were  simply  furi- 
ous, and  at  once  began  most  vigorously  to  dig  into 

the  snow  around  the  hole.     Of  course,  they  were 

287 


>'Mi 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


i#ii 


I  i 


iliv 


quickly  stopped  and  again  fastened  to  the  sleds, 
which  on  account  of  the  narrowness  of  the  tunnel 
had  to  be  backed  in.  Cautiously  they  worked,  and 
soon  w^ere  within  only  four  or  five  feet  of  the  ob- 
struction, whatever  it  was,  that  prevented  the  pole 
being  pushed  along  any  further. 

A  consultation  was  now  held,  and  it  was  decided 
to  very  much  enlarge  the  end  of  the  tunnel,  so  that  if 
there  was  to  be  much  of  a  fight  there  would  be  room 
enough  for  the  men  to  stand  up  and  easily  move 
around.  This  enlarging  the  tunnel  and  getting  out 
the  snow  consumed  the  best  part  of  an  hour.  For- 
tunately, it  was  not  very  dark,  although  they  were 
so  far  from  daylight  in  any  direction.  The  pure 
white  snow  seems  to  throw  ofif  a  certain  amount  of 
light.  However,  it  was  w^arm  work,  and  so  the  men 
frequently  went  out  with  the  dogs  in  relays.  Once 
outside  they  quickly  cooled  off  and  were  glad  to  re- 
turn. When  the  enlargement  of  the  tunnel  was 
about  completed,  and  the  men  were  again  engaged 
in  cutting  out  great  blocks  of  the  snow  that  was 
between  them  and  the  bears,  there  suddenly  reached 
them  a  perfume  so  strong  as  to  be  almost  sickening. 
No  need  of  telling  anyone  who  has  ever  been  near  a 
close  old  bears'  den  where  they  were  now. 

All   the   shovels  except  a  couple   were   quickly 

dropped,  and  the  weapons  were  seized  by  those  who 

were  expected  to  do  the  fighting.    The  arrangements 

were  speedily  made.     It  was  difficult  to  say  how 

many  bears  were  in  the  den.    If  only  two  or  three, 

there  would  not  be  much  trouble  in  killing  them,  but 

if,  as  sometimes  happened,  a  number  had  clubbed 

288 


f  !   f- 


tij 


50YS 

the  sleds, 
the  tunnel 
►rked,  and 
3f  the  ob- 
1  the  pole 

as  decided 

,  so  that  if 

d  be  room 

sily  move 

etting  out 

)ur.    For- 

they  were 

The  pure 

amount  of 

>o  the  men 

ys.    Once 

jlad  to  re- 

nnel  was 

engaged 

that  was 

y  reached 

sickening. 

3en  near  a 

quickly 

those  who 

mgements 

say  how 

or  three, 

them,  but 

d  clubbed 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

together,  there  might  be  as  many  as  eight  or  ten,  and 
if  so  there  would  be  lots  of  excitement,  and  perhaps 
somebody  might  get  hurt.  So  it  was  decided  that 
Mr.  Ross  with  Frank  and  Alec  should  go  out  to  the 
mouth  of  the  tunnel,  and  there  with  their  weapons 
remain,  with  the  dogs  unharnessed,  and  wait  for 
developments,  while  Mustagan  with  Sam  and  the 
others  would  face  them  in  their  dens.  If  any  tried 
to  escape  through  the  tunnel  those  watching  at  the 
mouth  would  fire  at  them  or  run  them  down  with  the 
dogs. 

Cautiously  the  intervening  wall  of  snow  was 
broken  down  and  trampled  under  foot.  Listen! 
There  are  low  growlings  heard,  and  it  is  evident  that 
the  bears  are  on  the  alert.  These  sounds  show  that 
the  bears  have  long  been  hearing  the  noise  made  by 
the  approach  of  the  tunnelers,  and  are  getting  their 
courage  up  for  a  fight  with  the  disturbers  of  their 
long  repose.  Mustagan  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
bring  along  some  torches  which  he  had  specially 
made.  The  principal  materials  of  them  were  rolls  of 
birch  bark  saturated  in  balsam  gum.  The  gum  had 
been  boiled  down  and  otherwise  so  prepared  that 
when  ignited  it  made  a  most  brilliant  light  and  yet 
emitted  but  little  smoke.  At  length  the  diggers 
came  to  a  wall  of  icy  snow,  which  was  very  close  and 
hard.  This  was  the  wall  and  roof  of  the  whole  den. 
The  party  attentively  listened,  and  now  the  bears 
were  easily  heard.    Mustagan  said : 

"Some  of   them   wide-awake,   others   seem   like 

sleepy  boys  called  early.     They  are  growling  and 

snarling,  and  seem  to  say,  'Be  quiet  and  let  us  sleep 
19  289 


l:^ 


m 


i: 


'  M 


kr 


iW 


Winter  Adventures  ok  Thkee  Boys 


I' 


I- 

i 


W-  i 


il  I 


-i 


Iv     .', 


1   ^' 

"^tli 

iL 

till  it  is  time  to  get  up.'  We'll  wake  you  so  you  will 
want  to  get  up  in  a  hurry,"  added  the  old  man  with 
a  chuckle,  as  he  made  his  final  arrangements. 

These  were  as  follows:  The  men  who  had  been 
using  the  shovels  were  ordered  to  exchange  them  for 
their  heavy  axes.  With  these  they  were  to  at  once 
smash  in  a  place  large  enough  for  Mustagan  and 
Sam  to  step  through.  They  would  each  have  one  of 
the  brightest  torches,  and  so  the  old  man  believed 
that  the  sleeping  animals  would  crowd  from  the  be- 
wildering light  to  the  other  side  of  the  den.  So  the 
flint  and  steel  were  struck  and  a  light  made  by  one 
of  them,  while  the  axmen  now  vigorously  broke 
through  the  thin  glassy  wall. 

Soon  an  opening  sufficiently  large  was  made,  and 
the  old  Indian  and  Sam  fearlessly  stepped  in,  with 
guns  and  torches.  As  anticipated  by  Mustagan,  the 
bears,  frightened  by  the  brilliant  torches,  at  once 
crowded  away  from  the  dazzling  flames.  So  he  and 
Sam  were  safely  in,  but  it  did  not  take  him  long  to 
see  that  they  were  not  altogether  safe  in  there.  My, 
what  a  crowd  of  them !  and  bears  of  all  sizes  too. 

"Chop  away  at  the  ice,"  was  Mustagan's  first 
command,  as  he  and  Sam  kept  slowly  edging  their 
way  around.  So  numerous  were  the  bears  that  they 
dare  not  think  of  letting  go  their  splendid  torches 
that  were  burning  brightly. 

"W^e  are  going  to  try  and  drive  them  out,"  were 
his  next  words;  and  then  the  old  Indian  shouted, 
"Look  out,  men,  and  be  ready  for  them !" 

Sam  was  cool  and  collected,  for  he  had  all  con- 
fidence in  Mustagan,  but  he  could  not  help  being 

290 


Boys 

;o  you  will 
,  man  with 
its. 

)  had  been 
fe  them  for 
to  at  once 
stagan  and 
lave  one  of 
in  believed 
•om  the  be- 
en. So  the 
lade  by  one 
msly  broke 

;  made,  and 
led  in,  with 
istagan,  the 
es,  at  once 

So  he  and 
lim  long  to 

here.  My, 
lizes  too. 
agan's  first 
idging  their 
rs  that  they 
idid  torches 


>> 


out,    were 
an  shouted, 

lad  all  con- 
help  being 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

startled  and  surprised  at  the  number  of  tlie  bears  that 
lay  there  snarling  and  growling  like  a  drove  of  pigs. 
The  size  and  beauty  of  the  winter  house  was  also  a 
revelation.  As  the  winter  had  advanced  the  warmth 
of  the  bears  had  caused  the  icy  walls  and  roof  to  keep 
slowly  receding,  until  now  here  was  a  capacious 
vaultlike  room  of  clearest  crystal.  As  the  brilliant 
light  flashed  on  it,  it  seemed  like  some  dream  of  fairy- 
land. One  look,  however,  at  the  startled,  growling 
bears  showed  that  the  fierce  occupants  were  anything 
but  nymphs  and  fairies.  Seeini;  their  numbers, 
Mustagan  quickly  called  in  a  couple  more  men,  with 
axes  and  additional  torches.  Pointing  out  a  very 
large  one  that  seemed  ready  to  begin  battle  at  any 
moment,  he  said,  "You,  Sam,  you  shoot  him  fair 
between  the  eyes." 

Sam  at  once  obeyed.  Tremendous  was  the  effect. 
So  confined  was  the  place  that  the  sound  was  as 
though  a  cannon  had  been  fired.  All  the  torches 
were  instantly  extinguished  but  one,  and  the  ice 
cracked  and  fell  in  great  pieces  around  them.  Speed- 
ily were  the  torches  relighted.  The  bears  were  wide- 
awake now.  Fortunately,  the  biggest  and  fiercest 
was  stone  dead.  Sam's  aim  had  been  sure,  and  his 
bullet  had  done  its  work.  Mustagan  was  now  so 
fiercely  attacked  by  the  next  largest  one  that  he  could 
not  bring  up  his  gun  to  his  shoulder,  but  he  skillfully 
fired  from  his  side  and  sent  a  bullet  into  the  heart  of 
his  assailant.  This  quickly  finished  him.  This 
second  report  was,  if  possible,  worse  than  the  first, 
and  so  some  seconds  were  lost  in  relighting  the 

torches. 

291 


i!  ' 


tt  .1. 


::if;    t 


m 


:t:  ? 


0 


■'•  ' 


l!    I- 


(i 


ij: 


I   i  1 


Winter  Auventurks  of  Thrkk  Boys 

"Drop  your  guns,"  said  Mustagaii,  "and  fight 
with  your  axes  and  knives." 

And  light  they  had  to,  for  the  hears  were  now 
full  of  hgiit  and  each  went  for  an  opponent.  Sam 
bravely  tackled  a  fine  two-year-old  with  his  ax.  lie 
raised  it  and  made  a  desperate  blow  to  try  and  split 
the  animal's  skull  open.  But  just  as  he  plunged  for- 
ward to  strike  the  bear  suddenly  rose  up  and  with  a 
side  blow  struck  the  ax  such  a  clip  that  it  fairly  flew 
out  of  Sam's  hands,  while  the  lad,  unable  to  keep  his 
f(X)ting,  stumbled  ftTward  at  the  bear's  hind  feet. 
He  was  fortunately  able  to  reach  sideways  and  seize 
one  of  the  flaming  torches  that  had  been  thrown  on 
the  ground,  and  which  was  still  fiercely  burning. 
He  was  none  too  soon,  for  already  the  bear's  strong 
forearms  were  winding  round  him  for  a  hug  that 
he  would  have  long  remembered.  However,  as  the 
blazing  torch  was  pushed  into  the  bear's  face  it  so 
suddenly  singed  his  handsome  whiskers  that  he  had 
to  throw  up  his  paws  to  defend  his  face.  Finding 
himself  thus  free  again,  Sam  was  quickly  on  his  feet. 
Drawing  his  knife,  he  was  able  to  look  around.  Two 
or  three  bears  were  killed  and  others  wounded,  but 
so  carefully  were  they  using  their  paws  in  parrying 
the  blows  of  the  men  that  they  were  fairly  holding 
their  own.  One  man  had  a  shoulder  blade  broken, 
and  another's  crushed  ribs  were  making  him  groan. 

"Let  us  drive  them  out,"  said  Mustagan,  and  al- 
ready it  was  evident  that  the  bears'  quick  instinct 
had  enabled  them  to  catch  the  scent  of  the  fresh  air 
through  the  tunnel. 

"Run  for  your  lives!"  shouted  Mustagan  to  the 

292 


Roys 
"and  fight 

were  now 
nent.  Sam 
his  ax.  lie 
;ry  and  spHt 
blunged  for- 
)  and  witli  a 
t  fairly  Hew 
e  to  keep  his 
s  hind  feet, 
ys  and  seize 
1  thrown  on 
ly  burning. 
)ear's  strong 
•  a  hug  that 
/ever,  as  the 
's  face  it  so 
that  he  had 
:e.  Finding 
y  on  his  feet, 
•ound.  Two 
mounded,  but 
i  in  parrying 
lirly  holding 
ilade  broken, 
I  him  groan, 
gan,  and  al- 
uick  instinct 
the  fresh  air 

tagan  to  the 


IN  THE  Grkat  Lone  Land 

two  men  who  had  been  left  in  the  tunnel,  "and  tell 
Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  to  be  ready  at  the  mouth  to 
receive  them." 

They  lost  no  time  in  getting  out,  for  they  were 
about  half  blinded  and  suffocated  by  the  smoke  of 
the  guns  and  could  render  but  little  service.  They 
were  soon  out,  and  found  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys 
ready  for  the  bears.  All  were  much  excited,  for  they 
had  distinctly  heard  the  two  shots  fired  inside. 

Mustagan,  Sam,  and  the  Indians  had  now  wedged 
themselves  so  around  the  bears  that  they  had  them 
all  between  them  and  the  opening  into  the  tuiniel. 
The  cunning  animals  were  loth  to  leave  their  winter 
quarters,  and  so  they  very  slowly  and  reluctantly 
gave  ground  as  Mustagan  and  the  others,  with  their 
flaming  torches,  gradually  forced  them  on  ahead. 
It  would  now  have  been  easy  to  have  shot  some  of 
them,  but  Mustagan  was  afraid  that  as  so  much  of  the 
ice  had  fallen  already  from  the  roof  of  the  den  a  few 
more  such  reports  might  find  them  all  buried  under 
the  great  mass  above  them,  bo  he  decided  to  drive 
the  bears  out  into  the  open  air,  where  the  fight  could 
be  renewed. 

At  the  great  opening  in  the  crystal  wall  the  bears 
made  a  determined  stand.  There  were  still  seven  or 
eight  of  them  unwounded.  There  they  raised  them- 
selves upon  their  hind  feet  against  the  opening,  and 
seemed  to  say,  "We  will  not  be  thus  driven  out  of 
our  house."  Beyond  this  point  it  seemed  impossible 
to  drive  them.  The  torches  would  not  burn  much 
longer,  and  something  desperate  had  to  be  done. 
Mustagan,  while  fearful  of  the  effects  of  a  powder 

293 


#' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


■f? 


i 
1,. 

f               ■' 

- 

Ill 

J 

»i 

1                 ^' 

■•V 

1;                               1 

1 

^: 

i 

explosion  on  the  roof,  yet  resolved  to  try  one.  Skill- 
fully throwing  some  powder  in  handfuls  at  the  feet 
of  the  bears,  he  said  to  Sam  and  to  the  men : 

"Get  back  as  far  as  possible,  before  I  fire  this  train 
of  powder.  Pull  your  caps  over  your  eyes,  and  put 
your  heads  to  the  ground." 

Then  he  plunged  one  of  the  torches  into  the  little 
train  of  gunpowder  that  reached  from  him  to  the 
bears.  Away  flew  the  little  stream  of  fire  across  the 
den,  and  then  there  was  a  commotion.  The  powder 
went  ofif  in  sheets  and  tongues.  The  bears  went  ofif 
aljo.  They  did  not  stand  on  ceremony  now.  They 
could  not  stand  such  a  fiery  house,  and  so  they 
wanted  to  get  out  of  it  as  quickly  as  possible.  With 
growls  and  snarls  away  they  hurried,  while  Musta- 
gan  and  Sam  and  the  rest,  with  the  expiring  torches 
and  noisy  yells,  followed  quickly  after,  keeping  them 
on  the  move.  Mr.  Ross  and  the  others  heard  them 
coming.  They  had  wisely  retired  a  little  from  the 
mouth  of  the  tunnel,  so  as  to  let  the  bears  get  well 
out  before  they  should  catch  sight  of  these  new  as- 
sailants. At  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel,  as  they  caught 
the  cold  air,  so  different  from  the  comfort  ble  quar- 
ters they  had  left,  there  was  a  decided  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  bears  to  retrace  their  steps,  but  that  hor- 
rid din  and  those  blazing  torches  were  just  behind, 
and  so  they  made  a  break  for  the  distant  forest, 
which  was  quite  visible  across  the  snowy  waste. 

"Fire  now!"  was  the  cry.    And  the  guns  of  Mr. 

Ross,  Alec, and  Frank  rang  out, and  a  coupleof  bears 

tumbled  over,  one  of  which  quickly  regained  his  feet 

and  was  off  after  his  comrades.    Unfortunately,  the 

294 


Boys 

one.    Skill- 

j  at  the  feet 

len: 

re  this  train 

/es,  and  put 

ito  the  Httle 
him  to  the 
'e  across  the 
The  powder 
ars  went  off 
now.    They 
ind  so  they 
sible.    With 
k^hile  Musta- 
ring  torches 
eeping  them 
heard  them 
tie  from  the 
ars  get  well 
lese  new  as- 
they  caught 
rt  ble  quar- 
esire  on  the 
ut  that  hor- 
ust  behind, 
ant  forest, 
waste, 
juns  of  Mr. 
ipleof  bears 
ned  his  feet 
unately,  the 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

man  holding  the  six  dogs  that  had  been  unharnessed 
could  no  longer  restrain  them,  and  so  they  were  off 
after  the  bears.  This  was  a  great  annoyance  to  the 
men  who  had  guns  and  were  now  emerging  from  the 
tunnel.  They  dare  not  now  fire  at  the  bears,  for  fear 
of  hurting  the  dogs.  The  snow  on  the  open  plain 
was  not  more  than  a  foot  deep,  and  so  the  bears,  as 
well  as  the  dogs,  could  make  very  good  speed. 
Some  time  was  lost  ere  the  men  and  boys  could  get 
their  snowshoes  on  and  take  up  the  chase.  It  was 
a  great  fight.  Some  foolish  dog  would  close  in  on  a 
bear  and  would  get  a  hug  that  sent  him  howling 
back.  Others  were  wiser  and  went  in  pairs.  When 
they  overtook  a  bear  they  immediately  separated, 
one  rushing  to  the  front,  while  the  other  remained 
behind.  Thus  they  keep  at  him  and,  as  a  general 
thing,  so  thoroughly  engage  his  attention  that  the 
hunter  can  come  up  and  shoot  him  at  his  leisure. 
In  this  way  Frank  and  Alec  were  each  able  to  get  a 
shot  at  a  couple  of  bears,  which  they  easily  killed 
without  any  great  risk  to  themselves. 

A  single  dog  has  hardly  any  chance  with  a  large 
bear,  as  one  of  Frank's  train  found  to  his  cost. 
Pluckily  he  rushed  in  and  made  a  gallant  effort  to 
seize  the  bear  by  the  throat,  but  the  powerful  fore- 
arms gave  him  a  hug  so  terrible  that  he  was  so 
crushed  that  he  had  to  be  shot  to  be  put  out  of  mis- 
ery. His  ribs  were  found  broken  like  clay  pipestems. 
Poor  Frank  dropped  a  few  honest  tears  over  Swag's 
grave,  v/hich  was  only  a  hole  in  the  deep  snow. 
This  death  was  the  first  break  in  any  of  the  boys' 

teams,  and  although  another  fine  dog  took  poor 

295 


{.»,    V,     « 


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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


^-  r'  i  , 
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Swag's  place,  it  was  long  before  the  boys  ceased 
talking  about  him  and  his  sad  end. 

Some  of  the  fleeter  bears  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  trees,  but  they  made  there  in  the  bitter  cold  but 
a  sorry  fight,  and  were  soon  all  killed. 

For  the  first  time  almost  for  hours,  now  that  the 
last  bear  was  killed,  one  and  all  began  to  feel  the 
terrible  cold,  and  no  wonder.  Such  had  been  the 
excitement  of  the  last  few  hours  that  they  had  not 
noticed  that  it  was  long  past  the  dinner  hour,  and 
when  eating  is  neglected  in  such  a  temperature  much 
suffering  will  quickly  follow.  So  the  cry  was,  **Back 
to  the  camp !"  No  second  order  was  necessary,  and 
great  was  the  delight  of  the  boys  to  find  that  some 
one  more  level-headed  and  less  excited  had  long 
since  returned  and  had  a  bountiful  dinner  awaiting 
everyone. 

It  was  too  late  to  return  home  that  day,  and  so  a 
swift  runner  was  sent  back  for  additional  sleds,  while 
the  men,  under  Mustagan's  guidance,  with  the  dogs 
available — and  they  were  not  many — dragged  the 
bears  to  the  camp,  and  there  during  the  evening  and 
night  carefully  skinned  them  and  cut  up  the  meat. 

Mr.  Ross  and  th<^  boys,  who  were  thoroughly 
tired,  wrapped  themselves  well  up  in  their  robes  and 
rested  in  the  camp,  feeling  that  they  had  had  enough 
excitement  for  that  day.  This  unique  experience  of 
bear-hunting  in  the  depth  of  winter  was  often  talked 
about  in  after  years.  Many  skeptics  scoffed  at  it  as 
a  dream,  but  they  who  were  in  it  knew  better. 

Frank  never  forgot  poor  Swag's  sad  end,  and  for 

long  days  he  mourned  the  loss  of  his  faithful  dog. 

296 


li 


Boys 

oys  ceased 

n  reaching 
er  cold  but 

)w  that  the 
to  feel  the 
d  been  the 
ey  had  not 
'  hour,  and 
ature  much 
was,  "Back 
essary,  and 
1  that  some 
1  had  long 
er  awaiting 

y,  and  so  a 
sleds,  while 
h  the  dogs 
[ragged  the 
|vening  and 

the  meat, 
horoughly 

robes  and 
ad  enough 

erience  of 
iften  talked 

ed  at  it  as 

tter. 

id,  and  for 

ful  dog. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  First  Signs  of  Spring — The  Eagle  Moon — Expressive 
Indian  Names  for  Some  of  the  Months — Chats  Among  the 
Boys  About  the  Phenomena  of  tlie  North  Land  —Power  of  the 
Frost — Cunning  of  Animals — Cleverness  of  the  Guides — Invi- 
tation to  a  Muskrat  Hunt — Gladly  Accepted — Habits  of  These 
Little  Animals — Methods  of  Capture — Their  Many  Foes — The 
Queer  Battle  Between  Wild  Cats  and  Wolverines. 

Thus  rapidly  and  pleasantly  passed  the  winter 
months  at  Sagasta-weekee.  Cold  they  were,  and  at 
times  the  blizzards  had  howled  around,  but  as  a 
general  thing  the  days  had  been  full  of  sunshine 
and  the  nights  of  wondrous  beauty.  Wretched  days 
of  fogs  and  mists  and  damps  were  almost  unknown. 
The  air  at  all  times  was  full  of  ozone,  and  knew  no 
taint  of  fever  or  malaria.  There  was  a  luxury  in 
living  where  the  skies  were  nearly  always  bright 
and  the  air  was  always  absolutely  pure. 

For  long  months  the  Frost  King  had  reigned 
supreme,  but  now  there  were  indications  that  his 
grip  was  lessening  and  that  his  power  was  coming  to 
an  end.  In  sunny,  sheltered  spots  the  snow  began  to 
soften  and  then  to  disappear.  Then  tiny  little  rivu- 
lets in  the  warmest  hours  of  the  day  began  to  make 
sweet  music,  gathering  strength  and  courage  and 
hurrying  on  to  play  hide  and  seek  as  they  dashed 
under  the  great  icy  coverings  of  the  still  frozen 
lakes.     Strong  south  winds  blew  frequently,  and 

under  their  magic  influences  the  great  snowdrifts 

297 


:  Wj 


^er 


I— f  <Ml.ilJ.]-IUMi 


Vi 


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■':LL,i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

rapidly  lessened  and  then  disappeaied.  From  un- 
derneath the  still  hard,  dry  snow  some  mysterious 
melting  influence  was  at  work,  and  the  great  masses 
sank  down  and  soon  all  flitted  away  under  the 
wondrous  but  unseen  influences  of  the  coming 
spring. 

"I  saw  a  great  golden  eagle,"  said  Alec,  as  one 
day  he  came  in  from  a  short  hunting  trip  with  Big 
Tom. 

"Did  you  see  it  first?"  said  Sam. 

"No,  indeed,"  replied  Alec;  "Big  Tom's  eyes 
were  more  alert,  and  so  he  first  saw  it  and  then 
pointed  it  out  to  me  as  it  was  flying  in  graceful 
circles  far  up  in  the  blue  heavens." 

"The  Indians  will  be  all  saying  that  spring  indeed 
has  come,"  said  Mr.  Ross.  "As  the  appearance  of 
the  eagle  is.  as  I  think  I  told  you,  the  beginning  of 
spring,  Mikisewpesim,  the  eagle  moon,  is  the  first 
spring  month." 

"Is  it  not,"  said  Frank,  "a  very  uncertain  way  of 
marking  the  seasons?" 

"The  variation  is  not  as  great  as  a  person  would 
at  first  imagine,"  was  Mr.  Ross's  reply.  "We  talk 
about  an  early  spring  or  a  late  spring,  and  March 
with  us  is  sometimes  like  April.  Then  some  other 
years  it  is  just  the  reverse.  So  the  Indians'  methods 
of  marking  the  months  by  the  arrival  of  the  birds, 
or  other  events  in  nature,  is  not  generally  much  out 
of  the  way." 

"What  birds  follow  the  eagles?"  asked  Sam. 

"The  wild  geese,"  replied  Mr  Ross,  "and  a     hey 

do  not  come  until  the  great  marshes,  which  are  their 

298 


Boys 

From  un-  , 

mysterious 

•eat  masses 

under  the 

le   coming 

lee,  as  one 
p  with  Big 


fom's  eyes 
t  and  then 
in  graceful 

ring  indeed 

pearance  of 

iginning  of 

is  the  first 

:ain  way  of 

rson  would 
"We  talk 
and  March 
some  other 
is'  methods 
the  birds, 
T  much  out 

d  Sam. 
nd  a'    hey 
:h  are  their 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

early  feeding  grounds,  are  partially  bared  of  snow, 
they  are  about  a  month  behind  the  eagles." 

"Then  is  there  a  goose  month  also?"  asked  Alec. 

"Yes,  indeed,"  replied  Mr.  Ross,  "and  it  is  a  very 
important  one  to  the  Indians,  and  I  anticipate  that 
we,  too,  will  have  our  share  of  excitement  in  it.  It 
is  called  Niskepesim,  from  'niska,'  goose,  or  'nis- 
kuk,'  geese,  and  'pesim,'  month.  The  Niskepesim, 
goose  moon,  which  correspond?  with  our  April,  is 
followed  by  Unekepesim,  frog  moon,  as  then  those 
denizens  of  the  swamps  and  ponds  begin  their 
croakings.  In  our  North  Land  frog  moon  corre- 
sponds with  May.  Then  comes  Wawepesim,  egg 
moon,  as  in  June  the  birds  are  nesting  and  hatching 
out  their  young.  So  it  is  with  all  the  other  months, 
each  has  some  equally  expressive  name." 

*T  am  sure  we  are  thankful  for  all  this  informa- 
tion," said  Frank. 

"It  is  a  pleasure  to  get  information,  even  if  it 
sometimes  has  to  be  acquired  under  difficulties,  and 
it  is  equally  pleasing  to  impart  it  to  those  who  will 
make  use  of  it,"  was  Mr.  Ross's  reply. 

"I  am  sure,"  said  Sam,  "we  will  have  a  deal  to 
talk  about  when  we  return  home  next  summer.  The 
only  thing  that  is  bothering  me  is  that  bts  will  say 
that  it  is  only  a  pack  of  lies  that  I  am  trying  to  cram 
down  their  throats." 

"Well,  then,"  replied  Frank,  "we  will  not  be  the 
only  returned  travelers  whose  veracity  will  be  ques- 
tioned. Don't  you  remember,  Sam,  about  the  first 
ambassadors  to  England  from  a  tropical  country  In 

the  south  of  Asia,  that  when  they  returned  home 

299 


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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

they  were  rash  enough  to  say  that  in  England  some- 
times in  winter  the  water  became  hard  enough  to 
walk  on.  Then  the  king  was  so  mad  at  them  for 
telling  such  monstrous  lies  that  he  immediately 
handed  them  over  to  the  executioner  and  had  them 
shortened  by  the  length  of  their  heads." 

"I  wonder  what  he  would  have  done  with  me," 
said  Sam,  "after  I  had  enlightened  him  on  some  of 
the  facts  of  this  country,  for  that  mere  trifle  of  a 
statement  about  ice  forming  on  a  river  in  England 
was  a  mighty  small  incident  in  comparison  with 
what  I  have  here  discovered." 

"What  would  you  tell  him,"  asked  Alec,  "sup- 
posing the  old  rascal  were  still  alive,  and  should 
ask  you  to  visit  him  and  then  set  your  tongue 
a-wagging?" 

"Sure,"  replied  Sam,  wituvjut  any  hesitancy,  "if 
his  Satanic  majesty — I  beg  his  paidon,  that  Siam- 
ese king — wanted  any  more  water  information,  I 
would  say  to  him,  'Sire,  your  majesty,  once,  in  a  fit 
of  indignation  at  the  doing  of  a  stable  man,  called 
Pasche,  I  seized  a  bucket  of  water,  just  drawn,  and 
up  with  it  to  throw  over  the  fellow,  and,  wonderful 
to  relate,  it  just  hit  him  in  chunks  of  ice  as  dry  as 
marble." 

"Well,  we  know  that  is  true,"  said  Alec ;  "but  sup- 
posing the  old  fellow  still  left  your  head  on  your 
shoulders,  what  next  would  you  tell  him?" 

"If  the  old  questioner  still  wanted  anything  more 
about  liquid  matter,  I  would  just  inform  him  that  we 
carry  the  milk  of  our  cows  wrapped  up  in  old  news- 
papers, and  that  it  keeps  that  way  for  months,  as 

300 


Boys 

land  some- 
enough  to 
t  them  for 
nmediately 
.  had  them 

with  me," 
m  some  of 
trifle  of  a 
n  England 
rison  with 

Uec,  "sup- 
ind  should 
•ur  tongue 

;itancy,  "if 
that  Siam- 
rmation,  I 
ice,  in  a  fit 
nan,  called 
Irawn,  and 
wonderful 
;  as  dry  as 

;  "but  sup- 
d  on  your 
?" 

;hing  more 
im  that  we 
old  news- 
months,  as 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

solid  and  tidy  and  handy  as  a  brickbat  in  the  end  of 
a  stocking." 

"If  he  could  stand  that  and  let  you  survive,  what 
next?"  said  Frank. 

"I  fancy  I  would  confound  his  intellect  by  telling 
him  that  the  breath-laden  air  of  the  church,  one  bit- 
terly cold  Sunday,  where  some  hundreds  of  Indians 
worshiped,  so  froze  up  that  the  whole  of  it  fell  to 
the  floor  in  beautiful  snow  so  plentifully  thi  t  in  one 
place,  near  a  cold  window,  it  was  over  a  foe.  deep." 

"Supposing  he  survived  that,  or  rather  let  you 
survive,  what  next  would  you  cram  him  with  ?"  said 
Frank. 

Sam,  glib  of  tongue  and  ever  ready,  at  once 
answered: 

"Well,  if  that  son  of  the  sun,  or  whatever  his  Ori- 
ental title  may  be,  wanted  any  more  information 
about  our  liquids,  I  would  enlighten  him  with  the 
information  that  here,  as  a  pastime  or  scientific  ex- 
periment, we  take  quicksilver  or  mercury  and  cast  it 
into  bullets  that  become  as  hard  and  solid  as  lead, 
and  then  shoot  them  through  stable  doors." 

"Anything  more?"  said  Mr.  Ross,  who  had  been 
an  amused  listener,  and  had  beer,  much  pleased  with 
Sam's  ready  answers,  which  showed  how  well  he 
was  gathering  up  the  facts  of  the  country  to  use 
them  in  other  lands  in  years  to  come. 

"Well,  yes,"  said  Sam,  "I  would  tell  his  bibulous 
majesty,  if  he  were  in  the  habit  of  imbibing  mois- 
ture of  a  fiery  kind,  that  on  one  of  our  long  journeys 
with  our  dogs  I  had  with  me  on  my  sled,  for  pur- 
poses that  need  not  concern  his  majesty,  a  bottle  of 

301 


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Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  strongest  wine.  One  day,  when  no  eyes  were  on 
me,  for  good  and  honest  purposes  I  made  a  visit  to 
the  aforesaid  bottle,  and  ^o  my  horror  and  grief  I 
found  the  bottle  burst  into  a  hundred  pieces.  Feel- 
ing carefully  around — for  it  was  in  the  dark  when  I 
had  made  this  visit — I  discovered  that  the  wine  it- 
self was  frozen  into  a  solid  mass  exactly  the  shape 
of  the  bottle.  I  carefully  wrapped  it  up  in  a  hand- 
kerchief, and  thus  carried  it  along.  Suffice  to  say, 
none  of  it  was  lost." 

"Well,"  said  Frank,  "if  just  about  water,  milk, 
mercury,  and  wane  we  will  be  able  to  tell  such  things, 
shall  we  not  have  lots  of  fun  when  we  talk  of  our 
dogs  and  their  doings,  and  of  many  other  things 
that  at  first  seemed  so  marvelous  to  us,  but  are  now 
evervdav  occurrences  and  have  in  a  measure  lost 
their  force  and  novelty?" 

"I  fancy,"  said  Alec,  "that  some  of  the  things  we 
can  also  tell  them  about  the  cunning  and  cleverness 
of  the  w^ild  animals  \ve  have  been  hunting,  or  seeing 
the  Indians  hunt,  will  open  their  eyes." 

"After  all,"  said  Frank,  "the  cleverness  of  the 
Indian  guides  in  finding  their  way  through  the  path- 
less forests,  day  or  night,  where  there  was  not  the 
least  vestige  of  a  trail,  sometimes  for  hundreds  of 
miles,  and  often  when  blizzard  storms  howled 
around  them  for  days  together,  was  to  me  as 
wonderful  and  unaccountable  as  anything  I  have 
v^itnessed." 

"Yes,"  said  Mr.  Ross,  "that  is  indeed  wonderful. 

I  have  been  studying  it  all  my  life,  and  I  am  just  as 

much  puzzled  to-day  as  I  was  at  first  with  these 

302 


Il  <l 


iOYS 

;s  were  on 
a  visit  to 
id  grief  I 
res.  Feel- 
rk  when  I 
e  wnne  it- 
the  shape 
in  a  hand- 
ice  to  say, 

Iter,  milk, 
ich  things, 
alk  of  our 
her  things 
.it  are  now 
jasure  lost 

things  we 

cleverness 

or  seeing 

ess  of  the 
1  the  path- 
as  not  the 
indreds  of 
howled 
me  as 
I  have 


m 


s 

to 

Is 


vonderful. 
im  just  as 
vith  these 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

first-class  guides.  They  are  not  all  thus  gifted,  hut 
there  are  some  who  never  blunder,  or  even  hesitate, 
under  the  most  difficult  circumstances.  The  sky 
may  be  leaden  with  clouds  all  day,  and  an  ordinary 
person  get  so  bewildered  that  he  does  not  know 
north  from  south,  or  east  from  west,  but  the  guide 
never  hesitates  for  an  instant,  but  on  and  on  with 
unerring  accuracy  he  pushes  day  after  day,  or  even 
night  after  night." 

'That  is  wonderful  indeed,"  replied  Alec,  "but 
the  cleverness  with  which  the  wolves  tried  to  get 
ahead  of  me  by  cutting  across  the  necks  of  land  in 
the  river,  and  their  other  deviltries,  are  what  I  will 
never  forget." 

Here  this  most  interesting  conversation  was 
ended  by  the  arrival  of  Paulette  and  Mustagan,  with 
the  word  that  the  melting  snow  had  exposed  the 
houses  of  the  muskrats,  and  that  they  were  off  on  a 
hunting  excursion  to  a  great  pondlike  swamp  where 
these  animals  were  known  to  be  very  numerous.  At 
once  it  was  decided  that  a  party  would  be  made  up 
to  join  them  at  a  designated  spot  in  the  forest  on  the 
edge  of  tii:s  great  swamp.  The  distance  was  be- 
tween twenty  and  thirty  miles,  and  as  the  greater 
part  of  the  route  would  be  on  the  ice,  it  was  decided 
not  to  start  until  the  chill  of  the  evening  had  hard- 
ened the  snow,  which  now  nearly  every  day  softened 
in  the  midday  sun.  Traveling  with  dog-trains  in 
half-melted  snow,  or  even  when  it  is  just  soft 
enough  to  stick,  is  very  heavy,  laborious  work. 
However,  as  soon  as  the  sun  ceases  to  shine  upon  it, 

at  this  season,  it  hardens  up  again  very  quickly. 

303 


\r 


. '.'  I 


II 


'U 


I  : 


1 
j 

j 

-  ■  i  -f 

I 

'i'  ^ '  ^ 

^^^^^^B^ 

■    i 

V    j 

! 

4 

'H 


Wi.VTER  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

Arrangements  were  made  for  a  three  or  four 
days'  trip,  so  a  regular  camp  outfit  was  taken  along 
on  the  dog-sleds.  In  addition  to  their  guns  the  boys 
were  each  supplied  with  a  long,  lancelike  barbed 
spear  for  effective  use  when  securing  the  muskrats. 
Two  or  three  Indians  were  taken  along  by  Mr.  Ross, 
who  remarked  to  the  boys,  when  he  decided  to  ac- 
company them  himself,  that  perhaps  this  was  the 
last  hunting  trip  of  the  season  with  the  dogs,  with 
perhaps  the  exception  of  the  one  to  the  goose  hunt, 
which  would  not  be  long  distant. 

The  whole  party  left  Sagasta-weekee  about  sun- 
dov/n,  and  as  it  was  a  crisp,  cold,  beautiful  moon- 
light night,  everybody  enjoyed  the  trip  exceedingly. 
The  boys,  however,  could  not  help  remarking  the 
great  change  in  the  temperature  from  midday. 
Then  the  sun  was  so  hot  that  the  snow  was  melting 
at  a  marvelous  rate;  now  everything  was  as  hard 
and  firm  as  though  it  were  still  January.  Through 
the  portages  and  over  the  frozen  ice  expanses  they 
hurried,  and  some  time  before  midnight  they  reached 
a  splendid  camp  already  prepared  for  them  by  Pau- 
lette  and  Mustagan.  A  great  roaring  fire  looked 
very  attractive  to  all,  even  to  the  boys,  as  they  had 
become  quite  accustomed  to  these  wintry  resting 
places  when  the  heavy  day's  work  was  done.  Ket- 
tles were  quickly  filled  and  a  late  supper  was  eaten, 
and  then  all  lay  down  to  sleep.  Nothing  disturbed 
their  rest  except  the  distant  mournful  screeches  of 
the  wild  cats  and  some  other  wild  animals,  that  were 
already,  now  that  spring  was  coming,  like  them- 
selves, on  the  lookout  for  muskrats. 

304 


Boys 

•ee  or  four 
taken  along 
ins  the  boys 
;like  barbed 
le  muskrats. 
y  Mr.  Ross, 
cided  to  ac- 
his  was  the 
;  dogs,  with 
goose  hunt, 

\  about  sun- 
itiful  moon- 
exceedingly, 
narking  the 
)m   midday, 
was  melting 
vas  as  hard 
^    Through 
[pauses  they 
hey  reached 
lem  by  Pau- 
fire  looked 
as  they  had 
itry  resting 
:lone.     Ket- 
r  was  eaten, 
ig  disturbed 
screeches  of 
s,  that  were 
like  them- 


iN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

In  the  morning,  after  an  early  breakfast,  the 
whole  party  set  off  for  the  great  pondlike  morass 
that  extended  for  miles.  Numerous  tracks  of  wild 
animals  were  seen,  and  Mustagan  pointed  out  to  the 
boys  not  only  those  of  soiiie  wild  cats,  but  also  a 
number  of  those  made  by  the  great  feet  of  the  wol- 
verines, as  these  latter  animals  are  as  fond  of  musk- 
rats  as  are  any  other.  When  the  edge  of  the  shore 
was  reached  the  boys  were  surprised  to  see  how 
rapidly  the  snow  had  disappeared  from  the  surface 
of  this  lakelike  pond.  On  it  they  noticed  a  large 
number  of  what  seemed  like  bundles  of  straw,  as 
though  a  farmer  in  a  great  loaded  wagon  had  driven 
over  the  surface  and  had  here  and  there  in  many 
places  pitched  out  large  forkfuls  and  left  them  to 
decay. 

'*It  looks,"  said  Sam,  "as  though  some  farmer 
hereabouts  had  been  drawing  out  the  contents  of  his 
barnyard  to  enrich  his  fields." 

"Just  what  I  thought,"  said  Alec. 

"All  those  little  hillocks  of  marsh  hay  and  reeds 
are  muskrat  nests,"  explained  Mr.  Ross.  "They 
were  made  last  summer  on  the  little  mossy  hill- 
ocks that  everywhere  abound  in  all  of  these  great 
marshes.  Being  then  entirely  surrounded  by  water, 
they  are  fairly  safe  from  the  prowling  wild  animals 
that  hunt  them  as  their  prey,  as  wolverines  and  wild 
cats  dislike  the  water.  Then  in  the  winter  they  are 
completely  covered  by  the  deep  snow,  and  so  are  as 
safe  as  beavers'  kitchens.  But  in  the  early  spring, 
when  the  snow  melts  off  the  ice,  they  are  at  the 

mercy  of  their  foes.    The  ice   remains  solid  for 
20  305 


mm' 


m-'i. 


\ 


^ 


'1''      \ 


\ 


likH 


mmm 


Vn 


,i  ' 


.  5 


(I  i 


1 

|r-; 

;  1 

I 

1:       ^ 

'r    ('■  '< 

it ' 

, 

;    k. 

(■' 

i    I  i 

■  1  'i 

1  . 

;;  i 

'1 

WiNTKR  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

another  month  or  so,  and  on  its  hard  surface  these 
water-hating  enemies  travel  and  tear  open  these 
nests  and  devour  those  that  have  not  deep  enough 
burrowings  in  which  to  hide  themselves  away.  Of 
course,  as  s(jon  as  open  water  comes  they  are  safe, 
as  they  are  thoroughly  amphibious  animals." 

The  boys  were  each  armed  with  long,  lancelike 
spears,  while  the  Indians  had  in  addition  to  these 
some  axes  and  guns.  At  the  first  nest  the  boys  found 
that  the  wild  cats  and  wolverines  had  been  there 
before  them  and  had  cleared  out  every  muskrat. 
However,  as  under  the  guidance  of  the  Indians  they 
pushed  out  further  on  the  ice,  they  found  many  nests 
or  little  houses  undisturbed.  A  few  blows  with  the 
axes  knocked  the  house  to  pieces,  and  then  there  was 
quick  work  in  spearing  the  almost  helpless  animals. 
In  the  houses  near  the  channel  of  the  stream,  or 
where  there  was  deep  water,  very  often  the  clever 
muskrats  had  a  channel  dug  from  their  little  straw 
houses  to  the  water.  These  "runs,"  as  they  are 
called,  serve  as  a  line  of  retreat  whenever  their  home 
is  attacked.  In  other  places  the  muskrats  contented 
themselves  with  merely  having  a  well-like  place 
under  their  little  houses.  While  some  of  them  were 
deep  enough  to  save  them  from  the  wild  cats  or  wol- 
verines, thev  were  not  sufficient  to  save  them  from 
the  spears  of  our  boys  and  Indians.  It  seemed  at 
first  cruel  to  thus  stab  the  helpless  animals,  but  their 
flesh  wvas  food  for  the  natives,  and  their  furs  were 
sold  to  the  traders  for  things  essential  to  the  In- 
dians' comfort.    So  numerous  were  the  nests  in  this 

extensi\'e  morass  that  there  was  work  enough  for 

306 


Boys 

rfacc  these 
open  these 
;ep  enough 
away.  Of 
;y  are  safe, 
als." 

J,  lancehke 
311  to  these 
boys  found 
been  there 
y  muskrat. 
ndians  they 
many  nests 
ws  with  the 
!n  there  was 
ess  animals, 
stream,  or 
the  clever 
ittle  straw 
they  are 
their  home 
s  contented 
-like   place 
them  were 
cats  or  wol- 
them  from 
seemed  at 
s,  but  their 
•  furs  were 
to  the  In- 
lests  in  this 
enough  for 


IS 


IN  THK  CIrkat  Lonf.  Land 

the  hunters  for  days.  The  boys,  however,  soon  be- 
came tired  of  killing  the  poor  muskrats,  and  so  only 
remained  at  the  work  with  the  Indians  for  the  one 
forenoon.  After  that  they  left  their  long  spears  at 
the  camp,  and  taking  a  dog  or  two  with  them,  at;d 
their  guns,  had  some  good  sport  among  the  par- 
tridges, which  were  fairly  numerous. 

The  second  morning  the  boys  were  aroused  very 
early  by  a  couple  of  the  Indians  who  had  been  on  the 
watch  during  the  night  guarding  the  now  large  pile 
of  muskrats  and  skins.  Paulcttc  and  Mustagan 
were  too  clever  to  let  their  game  be  stolen  fn^m 
them,  as  were  some  beavers  earlier  in  the  winter 
from  otlu  .  hunters,  as  we  have  described  elsewhere. 

"Get  ready  soon,  and  get  your  guns  and  come 
with  us,  and  we  will  show  you  something  that  will 
please  you." 

It  did  not  take  them  long  to  respond,  and  so  they 
were  soon  on  the  trail  with  Mr.  Ross,  while  the  tw'o 
old  Indians  noiselessly  led  the  way.  The  other  In- 
dians had  orders  to  remain  in  the  camp  and  keep  the 
dogs  with  them,  and  as  quiet  as  possible.  They  had 
not  traveled  more  than  half  a  mile  before  the  boys 
heard  the  most  discordant  screeches.  Still  they  had 
not  the  slightest  idea  of  what  sort  of  an  experience 
was  before  them.  Louder  and  louder  were  these 
sounds,  as  they  came  directly  with  the  wind  toward 
them.  When  they  reached  a  little  depression  in  the 
trail  they  found  that  Mustagan  and  Paulette  had 
stopped  and  were  awaiting  their  arrival.  It  was 
now  so  light  iii  the  eastern  sky  that  the  boys  could 

see  as  they  approached  that  the  Indians  were  mak- 

307 


w  ■> 


Sf 


nv 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  F.oys 


'»! 


m? 


I    i' 

m 


^f' 


ing  signs  for  perfect  quiet.  So  as  noiselessly  as  pos- 
sible they,  with  Mr.  Ross,  joined  them.  Then  they 
were  informed  that  just  over  the  brow  of  the  steep 
hill  bef  re  them  a  couple  of  wolverines  had  chased 
a  couple  of  wild  cats  up  into  a  large  tree.  The  cats 
had  each  captured  a  muskrat,  and  were  making  off 
with  them  when  the  wolverines  came  along  and  tried 
to  rob  them  of  their  prey.  However,  the  wild  cats 
had  succeeded  in  getting  up  into  this  solitary  large 
tree  v,^th  their  game,  and  although  the  wolverines 
can  climb  trees  they  did  not  like  to  do  so  to  attack 
these  fierce  cats,  as  their  being  already  above  them 
in  the  tree  would  give  them  such  an  advantage. 

Very  distinctly  now  could  be  heard  the  growls 
of  the  wolverines,  and  then  the  defiant  snarls  of  the 
cats.  Wi'h  their  guns  loaded  with  ball,  they  all 
begai:  ihe  cautious  crawl  up  the  hillside,  with  the 
Indians  mi  tiiC  advance.  Fortunately  for  them,  the 
top  of  the  hill  ;i;as  studded  with  short,  stunted 
spruce  trees.  By  each  person  keeping  one  of  these 
well  in  front  of  him,  they  were  all  able  to  crawl  up 
to  positions  where  they  could  distinctly  see  the  tree 
with  the  wild  cats  ensconced  on  its  large  branches 
and  the  wolverines  at  the  foot  of  it.  The  tree  was 
not  an  evergreen,  and  so  every  branch  was  distinctly 
visible.  For  a  time  they  watched  the  various  man- 
oeuvers  of  the  animals.  They  noticed  that  when  the 
wolverines  were  not  active  In  their  movements  the 
wild  cats  kept  eating  bits  off  the  muskrats.  This 
seemed  to  anger  the  furious  brutes  on  the  ground, 
and  so  the}''  would  one  after  another  make  the  at- 
tempt to  get  up  the  hard,  smooth  trunk.    How  the 

308 


\ 


Um 


i 


^irair 


i'%' 


lOYS 

,sly  as  pos- 
Then  they 
f  the  steep 
lad  chased 
The  cats 
making  off 
g  and  tried 
Q  wild  cats 
litary  large 
wolverines 
,0  to  attack 
above  them 
antage. 
the  growls 
inarls  of  the 
nil,  they  all 
le,  with  the 
)r  them,  the 
3rt,   stunted 
Dne  of  these 
to  crawl  up 
see  the  tree 
ore  branches 
'he  tree  w^as 
as  distinctly 
arious  man- 
lat  when  the 
vements  the 
krats.    This 
the  ground, 
nake  the  at- 
How  the 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

cats  had  succeeded  was  a  mystery  to  the  boys.  Wol- 
verines are  fairly  good  tree  climbers,  but  they  had 
no  show  at  all  here,  for  when  one  of  them  succeeded 
in  getting  well  up  the  almost  smooth,  bare  trunk  a 
fierce  blow  from  the  unencumbered  paw  of  one  of 
the  wild  cats,  securely  seated  on  the  large  lowest 
limb,  which  ran  out  almost  parallel  from  the  trunk 
of  the  tree,  quickly  caused  him  to  loose  his  grip  and 
fall  helplessly  to  the  ground.  Then  with  apparent 
satisfaction  the  wild  cat  would  take  another  bite  or 
two  of  his  muskrat.  Several  times,  as  though  on 
purpose,  the  wild  cats  dropped  small  bits  of  meat  or 
half-picked  lx)nes  to  the  ground.  The  taste  or  smell 
of  these  fairly  drove  the  wolverines  furious,  and  so 
they  would  desperately  make  fresh  attempts  to  get 
at  their  enemies,  but  without  success. 

It  was  fortunate  for  our  party  that  the  wind  was 
blowing  toward  them,  and  also  that  the  air  was 
so  thoroughly  tainted  with  the  musky  smell  of 
the  muskrats.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  they 
would  have  been  detected  long  ere  they  had  reached 
the  top  of  the  hill.  So,  unsuspected,  they  watched 
the  strange  antics  of  these  animals,  until  suddenly 
the  reports  of  a  couple  of  guns  rang  out,  and  then 
up  sprang  both  Mustagan  and  Pauiette  and  dashed 
down  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  loudly  calling  to  the 
rest  of  the  party  to  quickly  follow.  Following  Mr. 
Ross,  the  boys  speedily  obeyed,  and  when  they 
reached  the  tree  they  found  that  one  wolverine  was 
dead  and  the  other  was  hobbling  off,  as  speedily  as 
he  could,  on  three  legs.    The  other  had  been  broken 

by  the  ball  of  one  of  the  Lidians.     The  frightened 

309 


ii. 


'} 


ft  !■ 


ll: 


m 


If^^"^'-^^ 


i*,:> 


Ui 


i::iii 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

wild  cats  had  dropped  what  was  left  of  the  musk- 
rats,  which  was  not  much,  and  had  found  their  way 
much  higher  up  in  the  large  tree,  where  they  vainly 
tried  to  hide  themselves  by  stretching  out  on  a 
couple  of  large  branches.  Quickly  loading  his  gun 
again,  Paulette  hurried  off  after  the  wounded  wol- 
verine, that,  in  spite  of  his  broken  leg,  was  rapidly 
making  for  the  distant  dense  forest.  But  vain  were 
all  his  efforts,  for  behind  him  was  an  Indian  who, 
although  now  well  up  in  years,  was  one  of  the  fleet- 
est runners  in  the  tribe.  Soon  the  gun  rang  out  and 
another  wolverine  was  dead. 

It  was  decided  that  the  boys  should  have  the  work 
of  shooting  the  wild  cats.  So  close  and  flat  did  they 
crawl  down  on  the  big  branches  that  the  boys  had 
to  move  back  to  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
tree  to  get  a  good  aim.  Sam  and  Alec  were  to  fire 
first,  and  if  either  cat  failed  to  drop,  then  Frank  was 
to  bring  it  down.  Mr.  Ross  and  Mustagan  with 
loaded  guns  stood  ready  for  any  emergency,  for 
wild  cats  are  uncertain  animals,  and  are  not  to  be 
trifled  with.  They  are  very  fierce,  and  will  some- 
times, when  thus  treed,  if  furious  with  hunger,  or 
driven  from  their  young,  spring  down  into  the 
midst  of  the  hunters  and  fight  like  tigers.  When 
the  boys  had  secured  a  good  position,  and  each  knew 
which  wild  cat  he  was  expected  to  kill,  Mustagan 
gave  the  signal,  and  together  the  reports  of  their 
guns  rang  out.  The  cat  at  which  Sam  had  fired  at 
cnce  dropped  to  the  ground,  stone  dead.  The  other 
did  not  move,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  Alec,  who 

could  not  understand  how  he  should  have  missed 

310 


30YS 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


the  nuisk- 
[  their  way 
;hey  vainly 
out  on  a 
ng  his  gun 
.uided  wol- 
vas  rapidly 
t  vain  were 
iidian  who, 
3f  the  fleet- 
ing out  and 

ve  the  work 
lat  did  they 
le  boys  had 
;e  from  the 
were  to  fire 
Frank  was 
tagan  with 
rgency,  for 
not  to  be 
w^U  some- 
hunger,  or 
n   into   the 
ers.     When 
1  each  knew 
Mustagan 
rts  of  their 
had  fired  at 
The  other 
Alec,  who 
lave  missed 


him.  Just  as  Frank  raised  his  gun  to  fire  Musta- 
gan's  quick  eye  saw  what  the  boys  did  not,  and  so 
before  Frank  could  fire  he  stopped  him  by  saying: 

''That  cat  is  dead ;  do  not  waste  another  bullet  on 
it.    You  only  more  injure  his  skin." 

And  so  it  was;  when  the  body  was  at  length  ob- 
tained it  was  found  that  Alec's  bullet  had  hit  him 
squarely  behind  the  fore  shoulder  and  had  gone 
clean  through  his  body,  of  course  killing  him  so 
suddenly  that  there  was  not  even  that  muscular 
quiver  which  generally  causes  animals  when  thus 
killed  to  fall  to  the  ground.  This  was  what  actually 
happened  to  the  one  that  Sam  shot. 

Paulette  soon  after  made  his  appearance  drag- 
ging the  wolverine.  They  were  all  delighted  with 
the  morning's  work.  Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  hurried 
back  to  the  camp  and  speedily  dispatched  an  Indian 
with  a  dog-train  and  empty  sled  for  the  game. 
While  some  skinned  these  animals,  others  spent  the 
day  in  killing  additional  muskrats,  and  then  after 
supper,  as  soon  as  the  snow  had  frozen  hard  again 
and  the  glorious  moon  was  well  up  in  the  heavens, 
the  home  trip  was  commenced.  Loaded  down  as 
they  were,  they  did  not  travel  as  fast  as  they  had 
done  in  the  outward  trip,  and  so  it  was  about  day- 
break when  they  reached  Sagasta-weekee. 

311 


p  j 


I 


|m 


1  »1-  I   !  -I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


!     I 


CHAPTER  XXIJ. 

N'iskepesim,  the  Goose  Moon — Excitement  Among  the  In- 
dians— The  Fu'st  Goose — T!i*iir  Northern  Migrations — Feeding 
Grounds — Methoti  of  Hunting  Them-  Nests — Decoys — Our 
Boys  Off  with  the  Indians — The  Shoonng  Grounds — Their 
Camp — Grf;at  Success — Frank's  Queer  Accident — Hit  by  a 
Dead  Goose-  -Sam's  Comments — Laden  with  Spoils. 

Not  many  days  after  the  return  from  the  lusk- 
rat  hunt  the  weather  became,  for  that  land,  de- 
cidedly warmer.  This  created  so  much  excitement 
among  the  generally  stoical  Indians  that  the  boys 
cculd  not  but  observe  it.  So  one  day,  when  a  num- 
ber of  them  were  at  Sagasta-weekee,  Sam  asked 
Mustagan  the  cause  of  it.  The  old  man  answered 
but  one  word,  and  that  was : 

**Niskepesim"  ("The  goose  moon"). 

"Yes,"  said  Kinesasis,  who  had  just  come  in,  "it 
has  surely  come.  Some  passing  hunters  saw  some 
wild  geese  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  at  Lake 
Winnipeg,  and  others  who  were  out  spearing  musk- 
rats  said  that  they  heard  flocks  of  them  passing  over 
during  the  night." 

Great  indeed  was  the  excitement  everywhere  at 
this  news.  It  rapidly  flew  from  Sagasta-weekee  to 
the  fort,  and  then  on  to  the  mission.  As  though  by 
some  mysterious  telegraphy,  it  passed  from  one  In- 
dian settlement  to  another,  yea,  from  wigwam  to 
wigwam,  until  the  cry  everywhere  was,  "Niskepe- 
sim!  Niskepesim!"  ("The  goose  moon!  The 
goose  moon!"") 

313 


Boys 


rnong  the  In- 
ions— Feeding 
-Decoys— Our 
•ounds— Their 
nt— Hit  by  a 
5oils. 

n  the  lusk- 
it  land,  de- 
1  excitement 
lat  the  boys 
vhen  a  num- 
Sam  asked 
an  answered 


come  in,  "it 
rs  saw  some 
^er,  at  Lake 
taring  musk- 
passing  over 

^erywhere  at 
ta-weekee  to 
S.S  though  by 
rom  one  In- 
wigwam  to 
s,  "Niskepe- 
noon !      The 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Why  there  should  be  such  commotion  among 
these  northern  Indians  about  the  arrival  of  the  wild 
geese  has  long  been  a  puzzle  to  outsiders  who  hap- 
pen to  be  among  them  at  the  time.  Nevertheless 
such  is  the  case.  The  fact  that  this  moon  is  really 
the  beginning  of  spring,  which  is  so  welcome,  after 
the  long  and  drea'*^^  winter,  may  have  something  to 
do  with  this  gentral  excitement  and  gladness.  It 
is  really  the  first  month  that  the  family  have  a  flit- 
ting out  from  the  close,  confined  houses  or  wigwams 
in  which  they  have  passed  the  cold,  dreary  montliS. 
Then  it  brings  them  a  welcome  change  of  diet, 
which  is  much  prized  after  the  long  six  months' 
dining  twenty-one  times  a  week  on  frozen  white- 
fish,  with  only  the  variation  of  a  little  venison, 
muskrat,  or  beaver. 

At  Sagasta-weekee  the  excitement  was  as  great 
as  anywhere  else.  Mr.  Ross  had  to  exert  a  good 
deal  of  authority  to  keep  some  of  his  men  at  work 
after  they  had  seen  a  great  flock  of  these  splendid 
gray  geese  fly  over  their  heads.  Over  at  the  mission 
Mr.  Hurlburt  had  failed  completely  in  holding  his 
men.  He  had  been  for  some  time  urging  them  to 
clear  up  and  put  under  cultivation  what  ground  they 
had  around  their  village  that  was  good  and  fertile. 
At  a  good  deal  of  expense  he  had  secured  a  fine  sup- 
ply of  axes,  hoes,  spades,  and  oth(  '  necessary  imple- 
ments, as  well  as  seeds,  to  help  them.  For  some  days 
they  had  worked  industriously  and  well,  and  there 
was  every  prospect  of  a  hrge  portion  of  the  ground 
being  prepared  and  planted.     One  day,  when  Mr 

Hurlburt  had  about  thirty  men  hard  at  work  in  the 

313 


!?;■! 


III. 


V  ! 


mj^   ' 

T"'l 

-  ■ 

If  1 

M 

(  1 

tl  1'^ 

'^i:/*\ 

1 

f     :. 


I    nf: 


»'i, 


i ''',' 


'!      i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

fields,  what  should  come  flying  along  on  the  south 
wind  but  a  great  flock  of  geese?  They  were  in 
broken  ranks,  not  more  than  fifty  feet  above  the 
ground,  and  evidently  tired  and  looking  for  a  feed- 
ing place.  The  sight  was  too  much  for  the  hunting 
instinct  of  the  Indians,  and  so  every  ax,  hoe,  and 
spade  was  instantly  dropped,  and  away  they  rushed 
for  their  guns.  The  missionary  did  not  see  one  of 
them  again  for  two  weeks. 

The  wild  geese  are  of  various  varieties.  The  first 
to  arrive  are  the  great  gray  ones.  They  seem  to 
come  up  from  Central  America,  Mexico,  and  South- 
ern California,  where  they  have  spent  the  winter 
months.  Then  follow  the  brants,  wavey,  or  laughing 
geese,  which  are  all  smaller  varieties.  When  on 
their  long  migrations  the  geese  all  fly  very  high, 
cind  generally  in  long  lines  or  triangles.  But  when 
they  reach  the  north  country,  where  they  hope  to 
spend  the  summer,  they  fly  low  over  the  ground. 
They  seem  to  be  then  on  the  lookout  for  feeding 
grounds  and  suitable  locations  for  nest  building.  If 
undisUirbed,  they  speedily  break  up  in  pairs.  They 
arrive  very  hungry,  and  so  spend  some  days  in 
heavy  feeding  on  the  peculiar  many-jointed  grass, 
called  goose  grass,  the  Indian  name  of  which  is 
Niskeanuskw^a. 

At  Sagasta-weekee  the  boys  had  heard  so  much 

about  the  goose  hunt  that  they  were  full  of  curiosity 

and  excitement  as  the  time  of  its  expected  arrival 

drew  near.     White  suits  and  white  caps  had  already 

been  made  for  them,  and  the  guns  were  all  freshly 

cleaned  and  oiled.    Camping  outfits  w^ere  all  ready, 

314 


.;   I 


I 


30YS 

the  south 
y  were  in 

above  the 
for  a  feed- 
he  hunting 
:,  hoe,  and 
hey  rushed 

see  one  of 

..  The  first 
ey  seem  to 
and  South- 
the  winter 
or  laughing 

When  on 
very  high, 

But  when 
ley  hope  to 
he  ground, 
for  feeding 
luilding.    If 

irs.  They 
lie  days  in 
fnted  grass, 

f  which  is 

Ird  so  much 
I  of  curiosity 

:ted  arrival 

|had  already 

all  freshly 

[e  all  ready, 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

and  the  boys  observed  that  in  addition  to  the  win- 
ter's supplies  there  were  added  large  heavy  oilcloths, 
like  tarpaulins.  The  next  morning  after  Kinesasis 
had  reported  the  words  of  the  passing  Indians  there 
came  in  another  hunter,  and  he  had  with  him  the 
first  goose  of  the  season.  He  was  delighted  to  be 
the  first,  as  a  handsome  reward  is  given  to  the  one 
who  is  fortunate  enough  to  kill  and  bring  in  this 
kind  of  first  fruits  of  the  harvest  of  these  great 
birds.  The  sight  of  this  goose  was  all  that  was 
necessary  to  have  all  arrangements  completed,  and 
it  was  decided  that  on  the  next  morning  all  who 
could  go  should  be  off  to  the  great  goose  hunt. 

The  point  selected  for  the  camp  was  on  the  border 
of  one  of  these  great  swampy  plains,  from  which  the 
greater  part  of  the  snow  had  been  melted  by  the 
warm  south  wind,  leaving  exposed  over  hundreds 
of  acres  vast  quantities  of  this  jointed  grass  on 
which  the  geese  feed  with  such  avidity.  The  frost 
was  still  in  the  ground,  and  so  there  was  no  diffi- 
culty on  the  part  of  the  hunters  in  arranging  their 
shooting  nests  and  decoys  as  they  desired.  The 
camp  w^as  n^ade  very  similar  to  those  already  de- 
scribed. There  were  a  few  changes,  however.  The 
soft  snow  was  all  cleared  away,  and  a  deep  layer  of 
fine  balsam  boughs  were  evenly  spread  out  over  the 
cleared  place.  Then  over  this  a  couple  of  tarpaulins 
were  spread,  and  on  these  the  usual  camp  beds  of 
rcbes  and  blankets  were  arranged  as  elsewhere  de- 
scribed. A  great  log  fire  was  built  up  in  front,  and 
numerous  logs  were  cut  for  use  when  required.     A 

number  of  good  stiff  long  poles  were  also  cut  and 

315 


1; 

If! 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


B-ff.) 


[■  n 


:i  I 


'(  i; 


placed  where  they  could  be  quickly  utilized,  if 
needed,  to  erect  a  roof  or  barrier  against  a  storm 
of  sleet  or  rain  which  might  unexpectedly  come  up. 
While  the  camp  was  thus  being  prepared  by  some 
of  the  party,  in  this  cozy  elevated  place,  back  among 
the  trees,  where  it  would  not  frighten  the  geese, 
others  were  equally  hard  at  work  making  the  nests 
out  on  the  great  open  meadowlike  place  where  the 
goose  grass  was  most  abundant.  These  nests  were 
built  up  of  dry  grass  and  dead  brush,  and  made  so 
that  they  looked  just  as  their  names  would  indicate 
— like  great  nests.  Each  of  them  was  large  enough 
to  comfortably  hold  two  hunters,  who  could  easily 
move  around,  and  thus  be  able  to  fire  in  any  direc- 
tion. They  were  about  four  feet  high,  and  so  con- 
structed that  when  the  hunters  inside  were  crouching 
down  they  w^ere  quite  invisible  to  the  passing  geese. 
Some  Indians  used  to  pile  lumps  of  snow  here  and 
there  on  the  edge  of  the  nest  to  help  the  disguise. 
It  is  a  peculiarity  of  wild  geese  that  white  objects 
never  frighten  them.  This  was  the  reason  why  the 
hunters  all  wore  white  suits  and  white  caps.  Then  a 
number  of  decoys  w^ere  made.  They  were  rather 
rude  affairs.  The  bodies  were  hewn  out  of  logs 
about  the  size  of  a  goose.  A  couple  of  sticks  were 
driven  in  for  legs ;  then  the  heads  and  necks,  which 
had  been  prepared  beforehand  out  of  crooked  roots, 
were  fastened  in  their  places.  They  were  poor  af- 
fairs, but  seemed  quite  sufficient  to  attract  the 
simple  geese.  A  number  of  these  decoys  v^ere  as- 
signed to  each  nest,  and  the  hunter  had  to  arrange 

his  own  according  to  his  ov/n  judgment.    The  direc- 

316 


ii 


Boys 

utilized,   if 
list  a  storm 
[ly  come  up. 
red  by  some 
back  among 
\  the  geese, 
ng  the  nests 
;e  where  the 
e  nests  were 
Lind  made  so 
Diild  indicate 
large  enough 
could  easily 
in  any  direc- 
,  and  so  con- 
^re  crouching 
assing  geese. 
low  here  and 
the  disguise. 
,vhite  objects 
ison  why  the 
aps.    Then  a 
were  rather 
out  of  logs 
f  sticks  were 
necks,  which 
ooked  roots, 
ere  poor  af- 
attract  the 
joys  were  as- 
[d  to  arrange 
The  direc- 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

tion  of  the  wind  had  much  to  do  in  rightly  placing 
them.  Care  had  to  be  exercised  in  arranging  the 
nests  so  that  the  occupants  of  one  would  not  be  in 
danger  from  tlie  firing  from  another,  as  in  the  ex- 
citement of  the  settling  down  of  a  large  tlock,  or  in 
their  circling  completely  around  a  nest,  a  person  is 
apt  to  forget  everything  but  his  anxiety  to  shoot  as 
many  as  possil)le. 

As  soon  as  the  sleds  were  unloaded  they  were  all 
sent  back  to  Sagasta-weekee,  as  not  a  dog  must  bt 
allowed  at  the  camp.  No  geese  will  come  where 
there  are  barking  dogs.  For  the  first  day  or  two 
there  was  nothing  but  anxious  watching.  The 
southern  horizon  was  eagerly  scanned  for  the  on- 
coming lines  of  gray  geese  that  were  so  eagerly 
anticipated  but  s^jmed  to  be  so  late  in  arriving. 
During  the  second  night  the  wind,  which  had  been 
blowing  from  the  northeast,  suddenly  veered  round 
to  the  southwest.  This  was  noticed  at  once  by  the 
old,  experienced  men,  Mustagan,  Big  Tom,  Memo- 
tas,  and  Kinesasis,  who  had  been  invited  by  Mr. 
Ross  to  join  his  party.  They  were  convinced  that 
this  wind  would  bring  the  geese,  and  so,  dark  as  it 
was,  they  proceeded  to  make  all  arrangements  for 
the  next  day's  shooting.  They  first  went  out  and 
arranged  all  the  decoys  in  the  right  position,  so  as 
to  attract  the  geese  coming  with  such  a  wind.  Then 
they  carried  the  guns  and  arranged  them  four  apiece 
in  each  nest,  with  the  ammunition. 

Before  this  work  had  been  completed  the  geese 

could  be  heard  flying  over  their  heads.    Some  of  the 

flocks  were  so  low  that  the  vibrations  of  the  air 

317 


Ki 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Roys 


f     i 


f 


m 

J!      I<i 
1      I 


'ill.  •   ! 


di 


•hi    "ji 


,1       !■ 


.i   i 


ni  i 


'^111 


could  be  easily  felt.  When  they  returned  to  the 
camp,  although  it  was  still  starlight,  they  called  up 
Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys.  Breakfast  was  quickly  pre- 
pared, and  while  it  was  being  eaten  the  rush  and 
calls  of  the  rapidly  increasing  flocks  could  be  dis- 
tinctly heard.  Then  Mustagan  and  Frank,  each 
taking  a  white  blanket  with  him,  hurried  off  to  the 
most  distant  nest,  which  was  almost  north  from  the 
camp.  There  they  cozily  ensconced  themselves  and 
anxiously  waited  for  the  first  blush  of  morning. 
Alec  and  Big  ^om  took  possession  of  the  nest  on 
their  left,  about  two  hundred  yards  away.  Sam  and 
Memotas  were  assigned  to  the  nest  about  the  same 
distance  south  of  them,  while  Mr.  Ross  and  Kinesa- 
sis  took  possession  of  the  one  about  three  hundred 
yards  distant  on  the  right.  All  were  in  white  suits, 
and  had  in  addition  their  white  blankets,  as  a  pro- 
tection against  the  cold.  While  one  or  two  men 
were  left  to  take  care  of  the  camp,  the  others  went 
off  to  different  places  where  they  thought  they  could 
get  successful  shots. 

It  was  ncjt  long  before  the  morning  star  showed 
up  above  the  eastern  horizon,  and  then  the  first 
dawning  of  the  day  appeared. 

"Chist!"  ("Listen!")  said  Memotas  to  Sam,  and 

quickly  they  were  on  the  alert.    The  Indian's  quick 

ear  had  detected  a  low-flying  flock,  and  so  before 

they  w^ere  seen  in  the  dim  morning  light  they  were 

heard.     On  they  came,  little  dreaming  of  danger 

now  that  they  were  so  far  away  from  civilization, 

and  so  they  flew  not  a  hundred  feet  above  this 

hidden  place  of  their  enemies. 

3i8 


! 


Boys 

ncd  to  the 
y  called  up 
juickly  pre- 
e  rush  and 
mid  he  dis- 
^rank,  each 
d  off  to  the 
th  from  the 
mselves  and 
:)f  morning, 
the  nest  on 
y.    Sam  and 
)ut  the  same 
and  Kinesa- 
iree  hundred 
white  suits, 
s,  as  a  pro- 
or  two  men 
others  went 
it  they  could 

star  showed 
len  the  first 

to  Sam,  and 
idian's  quick 
id  so  before 
it  they  were 
of  danger 
civilization, 
above  this 


IN  TiiK  Great  Lone  Land 

Bang!  bang!  went  the  two  guns  into  th.cir  midst, 
and  soon  bang!  bav^'!  went  the  other  two  barrels. 
With  loud,  discordant  cries,  those  that  were  unin- 
jured veered  off  to  right  and  left.  IMemotas  then 
threw  down  his  empty  gun  and  quickly  seized  his 
loaded  one,  but- did  not  attempt  to  fire  it.  Sam  also 
quickly  picked  up  his  extra  loaded  one,  and  was 
about  to  fire  at  the  now  rapidly  retreating  geese. 
Memotas,  however,  stopped  him,  and  showed  him 
that  his  gun  was  pointed  exactly  in  the  direction  in 
which  was  the  nest  where  Alec  and  Big  Tom  were 
stationed.  Sam  was  frightened  at  what  might  have 
been  the  consequences  if  he  had  fired,  and  gratefully 
thanked  Memotas  for  his  caution.  Memotas,  who 
was  busily  engaged  in  reloading  the  guns,  only  said : 
"Soon  daylight ;  then  you  will  see  better." 

In  the  meantime  the  others  had  heard  the  firing 
and  were  on  the  alert,  and  so  when  the  divided  flock 
turned  to  the  right  and  left  some  of  the  geese  came 
close  to  the  nest  of  Alec  and  Big  Tom,  and  the  rest 
were  not  very  far  from  that  of  Mr.  Ross  and  Kine- 
sasis.  There  w^as  firing  from  both  parties,  but  their 
success  was  not  very  much,  as  the  darkness  was  still 
too  great,  and  the  geese  were  not  so  close  to  them 
as  they  had  been  to  Sam's  nest.  Memotas  went  out 
and  found  a  couple  of  geese  which  he  brought  into 
the  nest.  He  and  Sam  were  quite  proud  of  having 
killed  the  first.  In  the  meantime,  with  the  increase 
of  the  wand  there  was  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
the  passing  flocks.  And  now  soon  they  began  to  be 
distinctly  visible,  and  the  firing  became  quite  fre- 
quent.   Of  course,  a  good  many  shots  were  lost,  as 

319 


i 


'W  1 


ir' 


•"I 


ii<  i 


WiNTKR    AnVKN'TrUKS  OF   TlIRKl-:  PiOVS 

it  is  no  easy  matter  to  hit  a  (lying  goose,  large  as  it 
is.  No  experienced  Imnter  thinks  of  firing  (Hrectly 
at  a  goose  that  is  flying  l)y  him,  or  even  overhead. 
He  has  to  calculate  for  at  least  a  foot  ahead  for,  say, 
each  hundred  feet  the  goose  is  away  from  him,  and 
it  takes  a  quick  eye  and  good  judgment  to  correctly 
estimate  the  distance.  Sam  said  he  liked  hest  to  fire 
at  them  when  there  was  a  string  of  them  in  line. 
Then  by  blazing  away  at  the  first  he  generally 
brought  down  the  third  or  fourth. 

It  was  now  full  daylight,  and  so  it  was  necessary 
for  the  hunters  to  be  much  more  wary  and  keep 
themselves  well  down  in  their  nests  and  very  quiet. 
When  they  were  perfectly  still  the  geese  took  them 
for  lumps  of  snow.  This  was  the  reason  why  there 
was  nothing  but  white  in  their  dress.  Even  the 
belts  they  had  tied  around  them  were  pure  white. 
Soon  the  Indians  began  calling,  to  bring  the  geese 
within  range.  The  rude  decoys  were  placed  as 
though  they  were  having  a  glorious  time  feasting 
on  the  rich  goose  grass.  The  calls  of  the  Indians 
were  exact  imitations  of  the  geese  calling  to  their 
fellows.  Sometimes  these  cries  sounded  like 
"Honk!  honk!  honk!"  Then  they  seemed  to  be 
more  like  "Uk!  uk!  uk!"  Then  sometimes  they 
were  like  the  calls  that  the  ordinary  barnyard  geese 
make  when  well  satisfied  with  food.  It  was  inter- 
esting to  the  boys  to  notice  how  quickly  a  far-away 
flock  caught  these  sounds.  Marvelously  acute  was 
their  hearing.  Then  they  acted  so  differently. 
Some  were  very  wary  and  shy,  and  at  once  began 

to  endeavor,  as  it  were,  to  climb  up  higher  and 

320 


r,()Ys 

large  as  it 
ng  directly 
1  overhead. 
;ad  for,  say, 
m  bim,  and 
to  c(^rrectly 
1  best  to  fire 
leni  in  line, 
le  generally 

as  necessary 
ry  and  keep 
d  very  quiet, 
se  took  them 
3n  why  there 
1      Even  the 
!  pure  white, 
ng  the  geese 
e   placed   as 
ime  feasting 
the  Indians 
ling  to  their 
lounded    like 
eemed  to  be 
netimes  they 
rnyard  geese 
It  was  inter- 
y  a  far-away 
ily  acute  was 
differently. 
,t  once  began 
higher  and 


IN  THE  Great  I.one  Land 

higher  in  the  sky.  This,  however,  was  a  difficult 
task  just  then,  as  the  wind  was  behind  them.  When 
geese,  as  a  general  thing,  wish  to  quickly  rise  up 
high  in  the  air,  they  turn  and  go  against  the  wind. 
In  some  way  or  other  it  speedily  seems  to  lift  them 
up.  Other  flocks,  as  soon  as  they  thought  they 
heard  some  of  their  comrades  having  such  a  good 
time,  came  right  on  and  were  close  to  the  decoys  and 
nests  before  they  were  aware  of  their  blunder.  Then 
the  firing  was  rapid  and  destructive.  Some  of  the 
flocks  had  dropped  down  so  low  that  in  order  to 
rise  up  again  they  had  to  circle  round  and  go  back 
against  the  wind.  Then  there  was  double  sport  for 
the  hunters.  Often  a  flock  would  come  in  on  the 
left  side,  and  just  as  it  was  about  to  light  among 
the  decoys  the  guns  would  ring  out  and  do  their 
deadly  work.  The  survivors  were  so  low  dov/n 
that  they  could  not  go  on  with  any  advantage,  and 
so  had  to  turn  sharp  to  the  right  and  try  to  get  away 
by  going  back  against  the  wind.  This  movement 
brought  them  now  on  the  right  side  of  the  nest,  and 
as  they  passed  more  of  the  guns  were  fired  and  more 
victims  fell  dead  to  the  ground. 

Such  were  the  positions  of  the  nests  in  reference 
to  the  wind,  that  Sam  and  Memotas  had,  by  all 
odds,  the  best  place  that  day.  Generally  after  they 
had  fired  the  flock  broke  in  two,  and  Alec  and  Big 
Tom  got  part,  while  the  other  portion  generally 
found  Mr.  Ross  and  Kinesasis.  However,  when  a 
great  flock  pushed  on  unbroken  it  generally  went 
directly  over  and  very  near  the  nest  where  Frank 
and  Mustagan  had  their  quarters.    Then  there  was 

21  321 


' !  it  I 


h  ■ 

If ' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


;,  u 


if  ! 


some  fine  shooting,  as  each  had  two  double-barreled 
guns  and  Frank  had  become  quite  famous  as  a  shot. 
Many  of  the  geese  dropped  at  once  to  the  ground 
when  shot.  Others,  although  mortally  wounded, 
only  fell  when  quite  a  distance  beyond,  as  the  mo- 
mentum of  their  rapid  flight  seemed  to  carry  them 
on.  Some  fell  when  they  were  only  shot  through 
one  wing.  During  the  lull  after  the  firing,  when  the 
boys  went  out  from  the  nests  to  bring  in  the  spoils, 
there  were  some  additional  battles  to  be  fought  ere 
seme  of  the  geese  were  conquered.  Especially  was 
this  the  case  with  those  that  were  injured  in  only 
one  wing.  When  these  were  approached  they  in- 
stantly stood  on  the  defensive  and  stuick  out  most 
viciously  with  the  unwounded  wing.  Some  of  tne 
boys  had  had  some  experience  in  this  line,  and  so 
were  now  on  their  guard,  and  thus  escaped  feeling 
the  tremendous  power  of  a  goose's  wing.  Others 
viciously  used  their  bills  and  made  lively  work  for 
the  boys  ere  they  were  conquered.  Others  un- 
wounded in  their  legs  made  of¥  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible, and  then  there  was  great  fun  in  the  work  of 
running  them  down.  Those  that  could  use  even 
their  wounded  wing,  or  wings,  to  help  them  in  their 
movements  made  capital  time,  and  while  most  of 
them  were  captured,  others  succeeded  in  getting 
away  altogether.  Doubtless  they  would  be  picked 
up  by  alert  Indian  hunters,  who  were,  or  would  be 
in  a  day  or  so,  literally  swarming  over  every  place 
where  a  goose  was  likely  to  be  obtained. 

When  noon  arrived  they  nearly  all  returned  to 

the   camp,    where   dinner   already   awaited   them. 

322 


Boys 

3le-barrele(l 
IS  as  a  shot, 
the  ground 
^  wounded, 
as  the  mo- 
carry  them 
hot  through 
ig,  when  the 
in  the  spoils, 
,e  fought  ere 
specially  was 
ured  in  only 
:hed  they  in- 
ack  out  most 
Some  of  t'ne 
line,  and  so 
,caped  feeling 
ing.     Others 
ely  work  for 
Others   un- 
.pidly  as  pos- 
the  work  of 
luld  use  even 
them  in  their 
hile  most  of 
;d  in  getting 
.lid  be  picked 
I,  or  would  be 
:r  every  place 

[l  returned  to 
raited   them. 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Twenty-seven  geese  were  the  results  of  the  shoot- 
ing in  the  four  nests.  Other  Indians  came  in  with 
their  bags.  Some  had  done  on  the  average  better 
than  this,  and  some  not  so  well.  As  the  wind  re- 
mained steady  in  the  one  direction  the  flocks  of 
geese  were  very  numerous.  There  was  hardly  a 
period  of  ten  minutes'  time  when  some  were  not 
visible.  Of  course, 'the  great  majority  of  the  flocks 
were  high  up  in  the  air.  On  and  on  they  flew,  their 
eyes  fixed  on  a  point  further  north,  perhaps  a  thou- 
sand miles  beyond.  No  call  from  the  hunters 
reached  them,  no  ball  even  from  a  rifle  pierced  the 
thin  air  of  that  exalted  region  in  which,  at  perhaps 
a  rate  of  a  hundred  miles  an  hour,  on  they  flew.  The 
Lidians  say  that  the  same  geese  come  back,  when 
possible,  to  their  old  feeding  grounds  year  after 
year. 

After  dinner  t!ie  sport  was  resumed.  When  no 
flocks  were  near  the  boys  would  jump  out  of  their 
nests  and  by  some  racing  and  frolicking  on  the  ice 
keep  themselves  warm,  as  there  was  much  of  winter 
still  in  the  air.  The  cry  of  "Niskuk!  niskuk!" 
( ''Geese!  geese!")  would  send  them  racing  back  to 
their  respective  nests,  and  it  was  often  as  much  as 
they  could  do  to  reach  their  retreats  ere  the  geese 
were  upon  them. 

A  queer  accident  happened  to  Frank.    As  a  small 

flock  passed  over  the  nest  in  which  Sam  and  Memo- 

tas  were  sitting  Sam.  blazed  away  W'ith  his  last 

barrel,  just  as  the  geese  had  gone  by.     He  struck 

one  of  them  and  mortally  wounded  it,  but  it  had 

vitality  enough  left  to  keep  itself  up  until  it  reached 

323 


n  '•. 


« 


m 


m 


w 


/: ''. 


II    I   1, 


Winter  /wDventures  of  Three  Boys 

the  nest  where  Frank  and  Mustagan  were  crouched 
down  watching  another  flock  that  was  approaching 
from  the  other  side.  Without  any  warning  the 
goose  suddenly  dropped  dead  with  a  whack  on  top 
of  Frank,  knocking  him  over  most  thoroughly  and 
causing  his  gun  to  suddenly  go  off,  but  fortunately 
without  hitting  his  Indian  companion.  A  great 
gray  goose  weighs  something,  and  so  the  whack 
from  this  dead  one  nearly  knocked  Frank  senseless. 
The  inmates  of  the  other  nests  quickly  came  to  his 
assistance.  He  was  so  dazed  with  the  blow  that  it 
was  decided  that  he  and  Sam,  who  had  had  about 
enough  of  goose-killing  to  suit  them,  should  go  to 
the  camp  for  the  rest  of  the  afternoon.  It  was 
wisely  thought  that  Sam's  irrepressible  fun  and 
good  nature  would  be  the  best  medicine  for  Frank 
for  the  time  being. 

That  evening,  when  the  shooting  was  over  and  all 
were  seated  on  their  comfortable  robes  around  the 
bright  camp  fire,  there  was  a  lot  of  talk  about 
Frank's  queer  accident.  All  were  thankful  that  the 
blow  did  no  more  serious  harm.  Mustagan  said 
that  he  had  shot  geese  flying  over  the  ice  where  they 
had  fallen  with  such  force  that  they  had  broken 
clean  through  ice  so  strong  that  men  could  walk 
over  it  with  safety. 

"What  do  you  think  about  it,  Sam  ?"  said  Alec. 

"Think  about  it,  do  you  ask  me?"  replied  Sam. 

"I  have  done  a  deal  of  thinking  about  it.    I've  been 

thinking  that  was  the  queerest  weapon  of  offense 

I  ever  heard  or  dreamed  of.    I  have  heard  of  arrows 

and  bullets  and  darts  and  clubs  and  shillalahs  and 

324 


Boys 

jre  crouched 
approaching 
Ararning  the 
'hack  on  top 
•roughly  and 
t  fortunately 
n.    A   great 
3  the  whack 
ink  senseless. 
r  came  to  his 
:  blow  that  it 
ad  had  about 
should  go  to 
oon.     It  was 
ible  fun  and 
ne  for  Frank 

s  over  and  all 

IS  around  the 

)f  talk  about 

ikful  that  the 

ustagan  said 

|ce  where  they 

had  broken 

could  walk 

'"  said  Alec, 
replied  Sam. 
it.  I've  been 
»n  of  offense 
,rd  of  arrows 
ihillalahs  and 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

tomahawks  and  boomerangs,  and  even  thunderbolts, 
but  the  idea  of  hitting  a  poor,  defenseless  English 
lad  with  a  dead  goose !  It  beats  me  hollow !  Sure 
I  can  hardly  believe  my  senses.  I'll  be  denying  the 
whole  thing  to-morrow,  although  I  saw  the  com- 
plete performance  to-day." 

The  next  morning  Frank  was  fully  recovered 
from  this  queer  blow,  and  just  as  eager  as  ever  to 
take  his  place  in  his  nest  with  Mustagan.  The  wind 
veered  around  to  the  southeast,  and  so  all  of  the 
decoys  had  to  be  changed.  The  shooting  was  good 
all  day,  but  not  equal  to  the  previous  one.  The  In- 
dians were  very  clever  in  even  calling  some  flocks 
back  that  had  been  fired  into  with  deadly  results. 
The  explanation  the  Indians  gave  for  the  returning 
of  these  flocks  was  that  although  they  still  kept 
together  in  great  numbers  the  geese  had  selected 
their  mates,  and  the  shooting  of  one  or  other  of 
these  pairs  had  caused  the  whole  flock  to  return  to 
look  them  up,  in  response  to  the  cries  of  the  bereaved 
survivors. 

Sam  said  that  he  thought  that  the  elegant  voices 
of  the  Indians  as  they  cried  "Honk!  honk!"  had 
more  to  do  with  it  than  any  affection  in  the  heart 
or  gizzard  of  an  old  goose.  This  remark  of  Sam's 
was  at  once  challenged,  and  a  number  of  stories 
were  related  to  prove  that  even  the  despised  goose 
was  worthy  of  a  much  better  record  than  was 
generally  giv^^n  her. 

Thus,  v/ith  varied  success,  several  days  were 
spent  at  the  goose  grounds.     Two  or  three  times 

the  boy«-i  succeeded  In  each  bringing  down  four 

325 


mi 


••If 


1, 


i    ni] 


III 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

geese  with  the  four  barrels  of  the  two  guns.  This 
^\as  considered  very  clever  shooting  on  the  part  of 
young  fellows  on  their  first  spring's  hunt. 

In  due  time  the  dog-trains  returned  from  Sagas- 
ta~weekee.  The  last  visits  to  the  nests  were  made, 
and  the  closing  two  hours  of  the  goose  hunt  were 
voted  by  all  to  have  been  the  best,  aa  the  geese  were 
so  numerous  that  at  times  the  guns  w^ere  hot  with 
the  rapid  work.  The  boys  would  have  liked  to 
remain  longer,  but  Mr.  Ross  stated  that  they  had 
already  shot  as  many  geese  as  they  could  eat  at  home 
or  could  give  away,  and  that  it  would  not  be  right 
to  kill  any  more  of  such  valuable  birds.  The  true 
hunter  thinks  not  only  of  present  needs,  but  of  the 
years  to  come.  In  times  of  plenty  he  remembers 
there  are  days  and  years  ahead.  This  was  a  satis- 
factoiy  explanation  to  all. 

The  loading  up  of  the  geese  on  the  extra  sleds 
was  soon  accomplished.  A  good  warm  supper  was 
eaten,  and  then  at  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when 
the  frost  had  again  hardened  up  the  snow  that  had 
been  so  soft  and  slushy  a  few  hours  before,  the  horn? 
journey  was  begun,  and  among  "the  wee  small 
hoUiS  beyond  the  twelve"  the  welcome  lights  in  Sa- 
gasta-weekee  were  seen,  and  the  happy,  tired  ex- 
cursionists were  glad  to  hurry  off  and  half  bury 
themselves  in  the  beds  and  pillows  filled  with  the 
downy  feather^  of  geese  killed  at  the  spring  hunts 

of  years  before. 

326 


Boys 

runs.  This 
the  part  of 
t. 

rom  Sagas- 
were  made, 
;  hunt  were 
;  geese  were 
;re  hot  with 
ive  Uked  to 
at  they  had 
i  eat  at  home 
not  be  right 
5.    The  true 
s,  but  of  the 
e  remembers 
was  a  satis- 

i  extra  sleds 
1  supper  was 
night,  when 
low  that  had 
re,  the  hom:5 
wee  small 
llights  in  Sa- 
»y,  tired  ex- 
d  half  bury 
ed  with  the 
pring  hunts 


ii  h 


\ii 


■1 

■  IS 


)  I 
U  ! 


('■■  , 


'H 


s. 


!.( 


fJ:  ;I.U 


'•J 


:  I. 


J 

I 


.fi 


ri 

u 

I— I 

a 
o 

(o 

to 

o 

Q 

t/) 

X 


CO 


oi 


o 
Q 

s 

c/1 


J 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Sudden  Transition  from  Winter  to  Spring — Interesting 
Phenomena — Sam's  Last  Great  Run  with  His  Dogs — His 
Unique  Adventure — The  Open  Water — His  Novel  Raft — Suc- 
cessful Crossing — Frank  and  Alec's  Duck-shooting  Trip — 
The  Mighty  Nelson — A  Hunter's  Paradise — Returning  Under 
Difficulties — One  More  Shot  at  the  Wild  Geese — Frank  and 
Rumors — The  Fair  Visitants  at  Sagasta-wcekee. 

Very  rapid  indeed  is  the  transformation  from 
one  season  to  another  in  the  high  latitudes.  When 
the  long,  steady  winter  breaks  it  does  so  with  a 
suddenness  that  is  startling  to  a  person  who  ob- 
serves it  for  the  first  time.  The  snow  disappears 
with  a  marvelous  rapidity.  The  ice,  that  was  like 
granite  in  hardness  and  several  feet  thick  on  the 
great  lakes,  becomes  dark  and  porous,  and  in  spots 
literally  seems  to  rot  away.  Then  along  the  great 
cracks,  where  it  had  burst  by  the  power  of  the  ter- 
rible frost  some  months  before,  it  now  opens,  and 
soon  great  fields  of  it  become  floating  masses  on  the 
waters.  Under  the  action  of  the  brilliant  rays  of 
the  sun  it  becomes  disintegrated,  and  falls  away  in 
crystals  that  are  of  various  sizes  and  as  long  as  the 
ice  is  thick.  This  crystallization  begins  early,  and 
makes  the  ice  very  dangerous  and  uncertain.  The 
Indians  call  this  slivering  of  the  ice  candling. 

Sam  had  a  narrow  escape  from  drowning  on  ac 

count  of  this  rapid  transformation  of  the  ice.     He 

had  harnessed  his  dogs  and  gone  out  on  the  shining 

327 


■     i 


}^ 


Ml      ! 


:! 


r 


,if     Mi" 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

lake  for  a  run.  The  snow  had  all  disappeared  from 
ihe  land,  and  so  the  great  icy  expanse  was  all  that 
was  left  for  an  invigorating  run  with  the  dogs.  The 
frost  had  been  keen  in  the  night,  and  so  everything 
was  firm  and  hard  when  he  left  in  the  morning. 
The  day  was  an  ideal  April  one.  The  sun  was  full 
of  h  "o-htness,  and  the  south  winds  were  full  of 
warri,^':  ic r  miles  and  miles  Sam  recklessly  dashed 
along  \vith  h;  :plendid  dogs.  He  was  sorry  at  the 
thought  that  he  was  so  soon  to  forever  leave  them 
behind  in  that  North  Land.  Soon  some  pools  of 
water  on  the  ice  into  which  his  dogs  splashed 
brought  him  to  his  senses,  and  he  turned  for  the 
home  run  to  Sagasta-weekee,  now  perhaps  twenty 
miles  away. 

"Rip  Van  Winkle,"  said  Sam;  "sure,  I  am  that 
same  old  fellow,  to  judge  by  the  change  since  I 
traveled  over  this  icy  lake." 

Great  indeed  was  the  transformation  which  the 
sun  and  south  wind  had  made.  While  there  was 
still  plenty  of  good  ice,  there  were  many  dark, 
treacherous  spots  all  around,  which  had  so  crystal- 
lized by  the  sun's  rays  that,  although  the  ice  there 
was  still  three  or  four  feet  thick,  it  was  unsafe  for 
dogs  or  boy.  Fortunately,  dogs  become  very  wise 
in  this  matter,  and  so  Spitfire  carefully  wended  his 
way  among  these  dangerous  places,  cautiously  keep- 
ing where  the  ice  was  firm  and  solid.  Rapid 
traveling  was  in  some  places  impossible,  for  fear 
of  running  into  a  bit  of  rotten  ice. 

Suddenly  Sam  was  stopped  by  coming  to  a  long 

stretch  of  open  water.    It  was  a  place  where  during 

328 


Boys 

eared  from 
/as  all  that 
dogs.  The 
everything 
e  morning, 
im  was  full 
ere  full  of 
jssly  dashed 
sorry  at  the 
leave  them 
ne  pools  of 
^s   splashed 
ned  for  the 
laps  twenty 

;,  I  am  that 
nge  since  I 

which  the 
t  there  was 
any  dark, 
so  crystal- 
e  ice  there 
unsafe  for 
very  wise 
wended  his 
ously  keep- 
id.     Rapid 
e,  for  fear 

to  a  long 
lere  during 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

one  of  the  coldest  nights  the  ice  had  suddenly  burst 
open  with  a  report  like  a  great  cannon.  The  crack 
then  made  was  about  twenty  or  thirty  feet  wide  and 
some  miles  in  length.  So  intense  was  the  cold  that 
the  ice  in  a  few  hours  formed  again  on  the  water 
which  was  in  this  great  opening.  But  when  these 
great  breaks  in  the  thick  ice  occur,  toward  the  end 
of  the  winter,  the  new  ice  that  forms  is  never  so 
thick  as  is  the  rest,  and  so  when  t  c  raring  warmth 
comes  it  is  the  first  to  disappear.  It  v.  as  to  one  of 
these  open  seams  that  Sam  had  now  come.  In  the 
early  hours  of  the  morning  it  had  1  3en  covered  with 
ice  sufficiently  strong  to  hold  '  im,  but  now  it  was 
full  of  broken  fragments  that  rose  and  fell  on  the 
water  that  was  stirred  up  by  the  strong  south  wind. 
As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  north  and  south  ex- 
tended this  open  channel.  Sam  was  perplexed,  and 
hardly  knew  what  to  do.  To  drive  across  was  impos- 
sible, as  the  seam  was  much  wider  than  his  cariole 
was  long.  To  wait  until  the  night  frost  again  froze 
up  the  water  was  a  risk,  as  to  judge  by  the  warm 
south  wind  then  blowing,  if  it  so  continued  there 
w^ould  be  no  freezing  of  any  consequence.  Thus 
Sam  was  troubled  and  annoyed  at  having  allowed 
himself  to  be  thus  caught,  especially  as  he  and  the 
other  boys  had  heard  Mr.  Ross  and  the  Indians 
refer  to  just  such  experiences.  With  his  vexation  at 
having  thus  had  his  trail  so  suddenly  broken  there 
flashed  into  his  memory  the  stories  of  how  some  of 
the  Indians,  when  in  just  such  dangerous  places,  had 
escaped  by  making  great  rafts  of  the  ice  and  on 

them  floating  across  the  open  water.     No  sooner 

329 


h   l\ 


in 


j'H,: 


1^<M 


. 


:i  M' 

i 

it 

*  '1 

!  i! 

^     1 

'■|   i 
,   1 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

had  this  thought  come  to  Sam  than  he  fairly  shouted 
out: 

"This  is  my  plan.  Now  I  will  have  a  story  to  tell 
that  will  sound  well  in  dear,  darling  Dublin." 

It  was  well  for  him  that  an  ax  and  ice  chisel, 
which  he  had  been  using  in  cutting  a  hole  in  the  ice 
the  day  before,  were  still  lying  in  his  cariole.  With 
these  in  his  possession  there  came  a  feeling  of  ela- 
tion in  his  heart,  and  he  fairly  shouted  with  delight 
at  the  position  in  which  he  found  himself.  With 
great  zeal  he  set  to  work,  and  having  placed  his 
dogs  in  what  he  imagined  was  a  safe  position,  he 
first  carefully  marked  out  around  them  a  line  to 
indicate  where  he  was  to  chop.  Industriously  he  set 
to  work.  But,  O  dear! — well,  it  was  hard  work. 
Soon  off  came  his  outer  coat,  then  he  threw  down 
his  mittens,  and  his  fur  cap  followed  next.  Bravely 
he  toiled,  until  his  hands  were  about  blistered  and 
his  back  sore.  To  his  great  disgust  he  found  out 
that  not  one  tenth  part  of  the  task  was  accomplished, 
and  yet  he  was  about  tired  out.  He  had  selected  the 
firmest  ice  he  could  find,  in  order  that  his  raft  might 
be  perfectly  safe.  While  this  was  a  wise  thing  to 
do,  and  would  have  been  all  right  if  there  had  been 
sufficient  strength  available  to  cut  it  out,  it  was 
a  mistake  on  the  part  of  Sam,  and  so  he  realized 
when  he  had  toiled  until  weary.  But  he  was  not 
disheartened,  and  so  resolved  to  try  and  find  a  place 
where  the  sun's  rays  could  be  utilized.  Straighten- 
ing out  his  dogs,  he  drove  along  the  ice  for  a  mile 
or  so  before  he  reached  a  place  that  seemed  to  suit 

him.    When  he  had  found  what  he  thought  would 

330 


!:i 


4    -'      -  ♦ 


Boys 

rly  shouted 

story  to  tell 
Liblin." 
[  ice  chisel, 
le  in  the  ice 
•iole.    With 
:ling  of  ela- 
with  delight 
iself.     With 
r  placed  his 
position,  he 
m  a  line  to 
ioiisly  he  set 
hard  work, 
threw  down 
xt.    Bravely 
)listered  and 
e  found  out 
ccomplished, 
selected  the 
s  raft  might 
ise  thing  to 
re  had  been 
out,  it  was 
he  realized 
he  was  not 
find  a  place 
Straighten- 
le  for  a  mile 
imed  to  suit 
lUght  would 


IN   Tllli  CJKKAT  LoNli  LaNU 

do  he  set  to  work  at  once,  for  the  day  was  now 
advancing. 

The  spot  selected  was  a  solid-looking  piece  of  ice 
not  much  longer  or  wider  each  way  than  liis  dogs 
and  cariole.  It  projected  somewhat  into  the  water, 
and  on  the  icy  side  were  several  dark  places  where 
the  ice  was  rotten,  on  account  of  its  crystallization 
by  the  sun's  rays.  Here  Sam  with  renewed  vigc^r 
set  to  work.  He  made  rapid  progress,  and  found 
that  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  cut  the  firm  ice  that  lay 
between  these  different  dark  spots  where  the  ice  had 
lost  all  of  its  cohesive  power.  Sam  found  ere  he 
had  finished  that  his  dogs  were  getting  strangely 
nervous,  and  to  keep  them  from  rushing  off  he  had 
to  turn  the  train  around  and  tie  them  to  the  cariole. 
While  doing  this  he  discovered  the  cause  of  their 
fear,  and  was  also  thankful  that  he  was  with  them 
in  the  middle  of  his  now  floating  raft.  The  strong 
wind  blowing  directly  up  the  channel,  narrow 
though  it  was,  had  so  agitated  the  water  that  there 
was  a  good  deal  of  force  in  it,  and  so  now,  even 
before  Sam  had  completely  severed  the  ice  from  the 
main  body,  the  water  had  begun  to  cause  it  to 
slightly  move.  Dogs  are  more  sensitive  than  human 
beings,  and  so  they  had  noticed  it  before  Sam  had, 
and  while  he  was  trying  to  quiet  them  the  whole 
thing  broke  loose  and  began  slowly  to  move  north. 

As  this  novel  raft  broke  loose  it  was  quite  un- 
steady for  a  few  minutes,  and  Sam  saw  with  dis- 
gust his  ax  slide  into  the  water  and  disappear. 
However,  he  still  had  the  ice  chisel,  with  its  strong 
handle,  which  was  about  eight  feet  in  length.    At 

331 


I  If'  F 


^  ^  !■- 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


I  t 


» ( 


first  he  had  all  he  could  do  to  quiet  his  excited  dogs. 
They  acted  as  though  they  would  plunge  into  the 
water  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts.  Some  soothing 
words,  and  also  some  vigorous  kicks,  quieted  those 
of  different  temperaments,  and  they  settled  down 
at  last  and  seemed  to  say:  "Well,  if  our  master  can 
stand  this,  surely  we  ought  to  be  a1)le  to."  Not  until 
Sam  felt  that  he  had  his  dogs  well  under  control  did 
he  make  any  effort  to  get  his  novel  raft  across  the 
channel.  But  when  they  all  lay  still  and  quiet  he 
took  up  his  ice  chisel  and  was  ready  for  work.  He 
vigorously  pushed  against  the  icy  shore  from  which 
he  had  broken  loose,  but  his  strength  did  not  at  first 
seem  to  make  much  impression,  as  the  wind  was 
somewhat  against  him,  and  so  his  raft  at  times 
ground  roughly  against  the  side  from  which  he  had 
broken  away.  However,  he  was  slowly  working 
north,  and  he  was  not  discouraged.  Sam  was  al- 
ways an  observant  lad.  When  on  shipboard  he  had 
been  interested  in  watching  the  sailors  shift  the  sails 
to  catch  the  changing  winds.  So  now  an  idea  came 
to  him,  and  he  resolved  to  see  what  could  be  done 
with  an  improvised  sail,  even  if  it  were  only  made 
out  of  a  large  buffalo  robe.  Lashing  one  side  of  the 
robe  to  the  pole  of  his  ice  chisel,  he  then  firmly 
fastened  one  end  of  it  to  the  head  of  his  cariole. 
Cutting  two  holes  in  the  outer  corners  of  the  robe, 
he  there  tied  a  couple  of  strong  deerskin  strings. 
Then,  taking  his  place  in  his  cariole,  he  pulled  his 
sail  up  against  the  wind  and  awaited  the  result. 
He  was  not  very  sure  just  how  to  manage  to  get 

across  the  channel,  but  he  had  no  anxiety  about  get- 

33a 


Boys 

xitcd  clogs, 
^e  into  the 
le  soothing 
lieted  those 
;ttled  down 

master  can 
'  Not  until 
■  control  did 
t  across  the 
,nd  quiet  he 
:  work.    He 

from  which 
d  not  at  first 
le  wind  was 
aft  at  times 
vhich  he  had 
vly  working 
Sam  was  al- 
)oard  he  had 

lift  the  sails 

m  idea  came 

)uld  be  done 
-e  only  made 

le  side  of  the 
then  firmly 
his  cariole. 
of  the  robe, 

skin  strings. 

le  pulled  his 
he  result, 
^anage  to  get 
:y  about  get- 


IN  THE  Gricat  Lone  Land 

ting  further  off,  as  that  was  an  impossibility,  as  he 
was  now  jammed  up  against  the  ice.  So  he  pulled 
in  his  sail  and  then  let  it  out,  until  at  length  he  found 
the  right  angle  ior  the  brisk  wind  to  cause  him  to 
gradually  draw  away  from  the  side  he  liad  been  on. 
When  in  the  middle  of  the  channel  so  pleased  was 
he  with  his  novel  craft  that  he  let  out  his  sail,  and 
for  a  time  sped  along  north  between  the  two  icy 
shores.  Then,  observing  an  indenture  in  the  ice  to 
the  east  sufficiently  large  to  serve  for  a  harbor  for 
his  queer  vessel,  he  steered  for  it  and  safely  ran  in, 
but  struck  the  icy  landing  place  with  such  a  crash 
that  his  raft  was  split  in  the  middle  under  him. 
However,  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  hang  on  to  his 
cariole  and  straighten  out  his  dogs  by  the  calls  they 
well  understood.  In  an  instant  they  sprang  ashore, 
and  easily  dragged  Sam  and  the  cariole  after  them. 
Facing  toward  the  distant  home,  the  dogs  required 
no  special  urging,  and  so  rapidly,  yet  carefully 
watching  against  the  treacherous  places,  they  hur- 
ried on,  and  about  sundown  home  was  reache  1 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  had  begun  to  feel  anxious 
about  him,  and  so  were  not  only  relieved  by  his 
return,  but  very  much  amused  by  the  characteristic 
account  he  gave  of  his  adventure  on  the  ice  raft. 

In  the  meantime,  although  it  was  not  quite  dark, 
there  was  no  word  as  yet  from  Frank  and  Alec,  who 
with  some  Indians  had  gone  off  early  in  the  morning 
on  a  duck-shooting  excursion. 

Following  the  geese,  the  hunting  of  which  ha^ 

been  so  fully  described  in  a  previous  chapter,  came 

the  ducks  in  great  flocks.     They  could  be  seen  in 

333 


i      f 


i|  - 


i    \ 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


:j 


great  multitudes  during  every  hour  of  the  day, 
ard  the  whistling  sounds  that  accompany  their 
i-apid  flights  could  be  heard  every  hour  of  the 
night.  They  seemed  to  be  of  about  every  known 
variety,  from  the  great  gray  ducks  down  to  the 
smallest  teals.  The  Indians  were  after  them  inces- 
santly, and  killed  great  numbers  of  them.  They 
resorted  to  no  such  elaborate  preparations  in  hunt- 
ing them  as  they  did  at  the  goose  huntings,  but  shot 
tliem  at  the  various  points  along  which  they  seemed 
to  crowd,  and  in  the  many  pieces  of  open  water  on 
the  marshy  shores,  where  they  tried  to  find  some 
favorite  food.  The  boys  were  out  almost  every  day, 
either  with  Mr.  Ross  or  some  trusted  Indians,  and 
had  some  capital  sport. 

The  morning  that  Sam  had  prepared  to  have  a 
good  long  final  run  with  his  dogs  Fr?'-»k^and  Alec 
had  gone  to  what  was  called  the  Old  Fort,  where 
the  mighty  Nelson,  gathering  in  Lake  Winnipeg 
the  waters  of  many  rivers,  begins  in  its  full  strength 
its  fierce,  rapid,  onward  career,  that  ends  only  when 
it  reaches  the  Hudson  Bay.  This  has  been  for  gen- 
erations a  favorite  shooting  ground  of  the  Indians, 
and  here  for  the  day  the  two  lads  and  their  Indian 
attendants  came.  They  had  made  the  journey  very 
early  in  the  morning,  and  so  their  dogs  had  had  no 
trouble  with  the  ice,  which  in  the  night  frost  had 
quickly  become  firm  and  hard.  In  the  friendly 
shelter  of  some  trees  they  had  secured  their  dog- 
trains.  Here  building  a  fire,  their  Indian  cook  had 
a  second  breakfast  soon  ready  for  them.  While 
eating  it    ^^ey  could  hear  the  cries  of  many  wild 

334 


iOYS 

the  day, 
any    their 
Lir   of   the 
;ry  known 
,vn  to  the 
liem  inces- 
;m.     They 
IS  in  hunt- 
^s,  but  shot 
icy  seemed 
n  water  on 

find  some 
;  every  day, 
ndians,  and 

1  to  have  a 
k  and  Alec 
ort,  where 
Winnipeg 
till  strength 
only  when 
:en  for  gen- 
:he  Indians, 
heir  Indian 
)nrney  very 
had  had  no 
t  frost  had 
|he   friendly 
their  dog- 
n  cook  had 
:m.     While 
many  wild 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

birds,  that  the  now  strong  south  wind  was  bringing 
over  them.  Flocks  of  wild  geese,  principally  the 
waveys,  a  very  much  smaller  variety  than  the  great 
gray  geese,  were  quite  numerous,  as  well  as  an  occa- 
sional one  of  the  larger  kinds.  Swans  flew  by  in 
straight  lines  with  such  rapidity  that  many  a  shot 
was  lost  in  trying  to  shoot  them.  Pelicans  were 
also  there  in  great  numbers,  and  the  boys  were  in- 
tensely interested  in  their  awkward,  and  at  times 
comical,  movements.  As  they  are  not  good  for 
food,  only  one  or  two  were  shot,  as  curiosities. 
Cranes  stalked  along  on  their  long,  slender  legs  in 
the  marshy  places,  while  snipe  and  many  similar 
birds  ran  rapidly  along  the  sandy  shores.  The 
ducks  were  everywhere,  and  so  the  shooting  was 
everything  that  our  enthusiastic  hunters  could 
desire. 

The  Indians,  toward  noon,  began  to  get  uneasy 
about  the  return  trij:,  on  account  of  the  effects  of  the 
sun's  rays  and  the  south  winds  on  the  ice.  They 
suggested  an  early  start,  but  so  fascinated  had  the 
boys  become  in  the  shooting  that  they  kept  putting 
it  off  from  hour  to  hour.  However,  the  return  trip 
was  at  length  begun,  and  then  the  boys  saw  the  wis- 
dom of  the  Indians'  suggestion  for  an  earlier  start, 
and  heartily  wished  they  had  agreed  to  it.  Play- 
green  Lake,  which  in  the  morning  seemed  still  one 
great  mass  of  glittering  ice,  now  appeared  half 
broken  up.  Wherever  the  ice  had  burst  in  the  win- 
ter, and  there  frozen  up  again,  now  there  were  long 
channels  of  open  water.     Suspicious-looking  pools 

of  water  were  on  the  ice  in  many  places,  and  so  the 

335 


f 


1   ■; 

I 


:\ 


V  \i 


!l 


!  i 


11 


i        ■   ? 
I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


outlook  for  the  return  trip  was  anything  but  pleas- 
ant. Frank's  train  was  the  first  to  come  to  grief. 
His  heavy  clogs  in  passing  over  a  dark-looking  patch 
of  ice  broke  through,  and  were  with  much  difficulty 
pulled  out.  What  amazed  him  and  Alec  was  that 
the  ice  was  still  over  two  feet  thick  where  the  acci- 
dent occurred,  but  under  the  effects  of  the  rays  of 
the  sun  it  had  simply  disintegrated  into  long  icy 
crystals  that  had  no  cohesiveness,  and  so  when  they 
were  trodden  upon  they  afforded  little  more  support 
than  so  much  water. 

The  dripping  dogs  were  no  sooner  hauled  out, 
and  once  more  started,  than  the  appearance  of  a 
flock  of  geese,  in  one  of  the  open  stretches  of  water, 
was  too  great  a  temptation  to  be  resisted.  The 
trains  were  halted,  and  Frank  and  Alec  took  their 
guns  and  crept  round  to  an  icy  h^bck  from  which 
they  would  be  able  to  get  a  capital  shot.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  guns  rang  out  their  reports,  and  up  rose 
the  great  flocks  of  geese,  as  well  as  many  ducks  and 
other  birds.  Frank  and  Alec  had  both  been  success- 
ful, and  so  speedily  they  dashed  over  the  ice  to  at- 
tempt to  secure  their  geese,  which  seemed  to  be  only 
badly  wounded.  As  the  Indians,  who  were  in 
charge  of  the  dogs,  saw  them  thus  recklessly  dash- 
ing straight  for  the  open  water  they  instantly  started 
the  dog-trains  toward  them.  They  were  none  too 
soon,  for  the  boys,  apparently  seeing  only  their 
splendid  game  struggling  in  the  narrow  channel, 
noticed  not  the  dangerous  black  spots  on  the  ice. 
Poor  Frank,  who  was  a  little  in  advance,  almost 

suddenly  disappeared,    l^own  he  went,  and  that  so 

336 


Joys 

but  pleas- 
e  to  grief, 
king  patch 
li  difficulty 
z  was  that 
e  the  acci- 
he  rays  of 
o  long  icy 
when  they 
Dre  support 

[lauled  out, 
.ranee  of  a 
2S  of  water, 
listed.  The 
:  took  their 
from  which 
In  a  few 
.nd  up  rose 

ducks  and 
ten  success- 
|e  ice  to  at- 

to  be  only 
lo  were  in 
[essly  dash- 

itly  started 
|e  none  too 

only  their 
channel, 

m  the  ice. 

!ce,  almost 

nd  that  so 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

quickly  that  he  had  not  time  even  to  throw  from  him 
his  gun,  which  speedily  sank. 

He  had  all  he  could  do  to  save  himself  as  he  sank 
in  the  icy  crystals  that  sounded  around  him  like  the 
smashing  of  scores  of  panes  of  glass.  Alec,  alarmed 
at  Frank's  sad  plight,  madly  rushed  to  his  rescue, 
but  ere  he  had  gone  a  dozen  yards  he  too  found  him- 
self, as  he  afterward  expressed  it,  like  a  person 
dropping  into  a  well.  Fortunately,  he  was  holding 
his  gun  crossways  to  his  body,  and  as  the  hole  of 
rotten  ice  into  which  he  so  speedily  dropped  was  but 
a  small  one  the  gun  struck  solid  ice  each  side,  and  as 
he  had  held  on  securely  to  it  he  did  not  fall  in  as 
completely  as  did  poor  Trank.  His  plight  was, 
however,  a  very  awkward  one,  as  the  hole  was  so 
small  and  the  firm,  jagged  ice  so  gripped  him  that 
unaided  he  would  have  had  some  difficulty  in 
extricating  himself. 

Well  was  it  that  the  Indians  had  been  on  the  alert, 
and  so  it  was  but  a  few  minutes  ere  they  were  on  the 
spot  an<l  at  once  set  about  the  work  of  rescue.  Alec 
was  the  first  reached  and  was  speedily  pulled  out, 
although  it  required  some  effort  to  do  so  on  account 
of  his  being  so  wedged  in  so  small  a  hole  with  the 
sharp,  jagged  ice.  His  ribs  were  sore  for  many 
days.  In  the  meantime  Frank's  position  was  much 
more  dangerous.  The  speed  with  which  he  was 
running,  when  he  so  suddenly  tumbled  in,  caused 
him  to  go  completely  under  the  ice.  He  was,  how- 
ever, a  good  swimmer,  and  had  presence  of  miiid 
enough  to  know  that  for  his  own  safety  he  must 

come  up  in  the  same  place  where  he  had  gone  down, 
22  337 


;  fii 


^1  « 


It  ii 


'  I 


.^'•••■'     /'■?#C\, 


1  \ 


I  f 


i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Bo\3 

as  all  around  was  solid  ice.  He  was  sorry  to  iiave 
to  drop  his  gun,  but  there  was  no  hope  for  it  if  life 
was  to  be  saved.  He  found  the  sensation  of  tryinf^; 
to  swim  up  through  a  mass  of  ice  crystals  that 
seemed  to  be  two  or  three  feet  long,  and  no  lar^^er 
in  size  than  pencils,  a  unique  experience.  As  he 
bra\^ely  struggled  through  them  they  broke  in 
thousands  of  pieces,  some  of  them  cutting  his  face 
like  glass.  When  he  was  able  to  get  his  head  above 
them  he  found  that  only  a  few  strokes  were  neces- 
sary to  take  him  to  the  strong  ice,  as  this  bad  spot, 
in  which  he  had  fallen,  was  not  more  than  twenty 
feet  across.  Getting  out  of  such  a  hole  on  the  slip- 
pery ice  is  no  easy  matter,  and  so,  as  he  could  see 
that  help  was  near,  after  a  few  efforts  he  was  con- 
tent to  wait  until  strong  arms  came  to  his  assistance 
and  rescue. 

Speedily  were  some  of  the  outer  garments  of  the 
boys  pulled  off,  and  as  much  of  the  water  as  could  be 
rubbed  off  from  those  u  suaining  on  them.  Two  of 
the  Indians  pulled  off  their  dry  coats,  and  with  these 
on  the  boys  were  well  wrapped  up  in  their  carioles, 
out  of  which  many  ducks  were  throw^n,  and  then  at 
once,  with  the  swiftest  and  yet  most  cautious  Indian 
on  ahead  as  a  guide  for  the  safe  places,  the  rapid  race 
to  Sagasta-weekee  began.  It  was  no  easy  matter 
for  the  Indian  in  front  when  dark  less  began  to  hide 
the  dangerous  places.  More  than  once  the  rotten, 
treacherous  ice  gave  way  under  him,  and  only  by  a 
sudden  throwing  of  himself  forward  did  he  escape 
going  through  into  the  water. 

The  distant  lights  in  the  windows  of  Sagasta- 

338 


"■^tiz: 


3\3 

f  to  liave 
r  it  if  life 
of  tryinpf 
stals  that 
no  lar^^er 
;.     As  he 
broke    in 
jT  his  face 
iead  above 
^ere  neces- 
;  bad  spot, 
lan  twenty 
»n  the  sHp- 
i  could  see 
e  was  con- 
5  assistance 

ents  of  the 
as  could  be 
Two  of 
with  these 
:ir  carioles, 
md  then  at 
ous  Indian 
rapid  race 
asy  matter 
an  to  hide 
the  rotten, 
only  by  a 
he  escape 


I 


f  Sagasta- 


iN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

weekee,  well  called  the  house  full  of  sunshine,  were 

indeed  welcome  siglUs.     Mr.  and  Mrs.   Ross  and 

Sam  had  been  long  on  the  lookout  for  them,  and 

were  shocked  and  frightened  at  the  sad  plight  of  the 

two  boys.    Frank  and  /Vlec,  however,  tried  to  make 

light  of  it,  but  neither  had  the  slightest  objection  to 

offer  to  the  hot  baths  at  once  prepared,  and  then 

their  suppers,  taken  that  night  in  bed.     They  were 

both  badly  shaken  up.  Frank  felt  worse  in  his  mind, 

because  he  had  lost  such  a  valuable  gun,  while  Alec's 

ribs  were  the  spots  that  were  for  some  days  his  ten- 

derest  places. 

All  sorts  of  rumors  went  out  in  reference  to  the 

accident.     The  story  had  so  enlarged  that  when  it 

reached  the  mission  house  it  was  that  the  boys  had 

been  rescued  in  a  dying  condition  and  were  still  very 

low,  and  so  there  was  great  sorrow  over  there,  ever 

so  much  that  it  was  said  that  two  sweet  young  ladie^^ 

refused  to  be  comforted.     When  Mrs.  Ross  hearc' 

this  her  motherly  heart  w^as  touched,  and  so,  as  the 

wnnd  had  clianged  and  the  cold  north  wind  had 

again   made  the   ice   safe   for   experienced   Indian 

drivers,  two  carioles  were  dispatched  to  the  mission 

for  the  aforesaid  young  ladies  to  come  and  spend  a 

week  or  two  at  Sagasta-weekee.     The  missionary, 

with   his   dog-train   in   charge   of   an   experienced 

driver,  also  came  over  at  the  same  time  as  did  his 

daughters.     Ere  they  ar/ived  the  boys  were  up  and 

dressed  in  moccasins  and  dressing  gowns,  and  so 

were  able  to  receive  their  very  welcome  visitors. 

Mr,  Hurlburt  only  remained  to  a  ver}'  early  tea,  and 

then  after  an  earnest  prayer,  in  which  there  was  a 

339 


V. 


Iff! 


''\ 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

great  deal  of  thanksgiving  for  their  deHvcrance,  he, 

with  Martin  Papanekis,  the  driver,  returned  to  his 

home. 

Of  that  happy  week  that  followed  we  confess  our 

inability  to  write.    That  it  was  a  very  delightful  one 

was  evident  to  all.    The  only  sorrow  that  tinged  its 

brightness  and  bliss  was  the  fact  that  soon  the  ice 

would  be  all  gone,  the  boats  would  be  arriving, 

and  then  the  home  trip  of  these  three  boys  would 

begin. 

340 


'I* 


iir 


erance,  he, 
ned  to  his 


-:¥<'■ 


lonfess  our 
ightful  one 
;  tinged  its 
)on  the  ice 
;  arriving, 
loys  would 


i ' 


f! 


i   i 


I' 
iv 

i  r 


■'i^ti 


■i     ( 


M 


Rachel  and  Winnie, 


if:,  i 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  L^^ 


/ 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Arrival  of  the  Spring  Packet — Welcome  Letters — Ar- 
rangements for  the  Home-flitting — Sam's  Raillery — Rachel 
and  Winnie  at  Sagasta-weekec — Happy  Hours — Canoeing  Ex- 
cursions— The  Cyclone — Young  Excursionists  Exposed  to  Its 
Awful  Power — The  Narrow  Escape — The  Refuge  of  the  Rock 
— Napoleon,  the  Tame  Bear,  in  Possession — Gun  Signals — The 
Happy  Rescue.  • 

The  arrival  of  the  spring  packet  was,  and  still  is, 
an  interesting  event  to  the  dwellers  in  those  remote 
northern  regions.  Not  a  letter  or  paper  had  reached 
Sagasta-weekee  since  the  Christmas  packet,  and 
now  it  was  June.  And  so  when  the  first  boats  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  arrived  from  Red  River  and 
Fort  Garry,  with  supplies  and  great  bundles  of  let- 
ters and  periodicals,  there  was  great  excitement.  A 
swift  canoe  was  in  readiness  at  the  fort,  and  so  it 
was  not  l^ng  ere  the  large  number  directed  to  Sa- 
gasta-weekee were  hurried  over  to  the  expectant 
ones.  They  were  quickly  assorted,  and  then  each 
person  with  his  own  rushed  of¥  to  fairly  devour  the 
contents. 

"Faith,"  said  Sam,  as  he  eagerly  seized  his  bun- 
dle, "the  sight  of  my  blessed  mother's  handwriting 
puts  sand  in  my  eyes  and  a  lump  in  my  throat. 
Blessings  on  the  darling !  May  she  live  a  thousand 
years !" 

Frank  and  Alec  were  equally  as  much  interested, 

but  they  controlled  their  feelings  and  left  to  the 

341 


i  ' 


k 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Huys 

more  demonstrative  Sam  these  joyous  ebullitions, 
that  were  as  natural  as  it  was  for  him  to  breathe. 

After  Mr.  Ross  had  perused  a  number  of  his  let- 
ters he  quietly  signalled  to  Mrs.  Ross,  and  immedl 
ately  they  both  left  the  room.  He  had  recei\'ed  a 
letter  from  Liverpool  which  informed  him  that  a 
very  serious  disease  had  begun  to  undermine  the 
constitution  of  Frank's  father,  and  while  no  imme- 
diate fatal  results  were  expected,  it  was  thought  best 
tliat  Frank  should  return  by  the  speediest  route  pos- 
sible. In  Frank's  own  letters  from  home  all  that 
had  been  mentioned  in  reference  to  the  matter  was 
that  ''father  was  not  quite  up  to  his  usual  health, 
and  they  would  all  be  glad  to  have  him  return  as 
speedily  as  possible."  Neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Ross 
said  anything  to  the  boys  in  reference  to  the  matter 
of  their  return  until  after  the  evening  meal,  when 
they  were  all  in  the  cozy  study  discussing  the  vari- 
ous events  that  had  been  occurring  in  the  outside 
world  during  the  last  six  months,  and  of  which  they 
had  all  been  in  profound  ignorance  until  that  day. 

Each  boy  had  read  his  letters  to  the  others,  and 

ogether  they  had  been  delighted  with  all  the  news 

received,   except   that   concerning   Frank's   father. 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  the  matter  of  the  return 

home  was  seriously  discussed.     So  happy  had  been 

the  months  since  their  arrival,  nearly  a  year  before, 

that  even  the  discussion  of  the  return  trip  had  been 

kept  in  the  background  as  much  as  possible.     But 

now  they  were  face  to  face  with  it,  and  sharp  and 

quick  must  be  their  decision  if  they  would  avail 

themselves  of  the  first  opportunity  for  their  depar- 

342 


ovs 

nillitions, 
eathe. 
)f  his  let- 
l  immed; 
eceived  a 
m  that  a 
•mine  the 
no  ininie- 
)Ught  best 
route  pos- 
le  all  that 
latter  was 
lal  health, 

return  as 
Mrs.  Ross 
the  matter 
leal,  when 
r  the  vari- 
lie  outside 

hich  they 

that  day. 
thers,  and 

the  news 

s   father. 

he  return 
had  been 

:ar  before, 
had  been 

lible.     But 

sharp  and 
uld  avail 

eir  depar- 


IN  THE  Great  Lonk  Land 

ture.  This  would  be  by  the  return  of  these  Hudson 
Bay  Company's  boats  to  Red  River.  In  them  they 
could  travel  as  far  as  to  Fort  Garry.  hVom  that 
point  they  would  take  the  overland  trail  on  the  great 
plains  to  St.  Paul,  and  there,  boarding  the  tlat-bot- 
tomed  steamers  on  the  Mississippi,  would  once  more 
begin  traveling  in  a  civilized  manner. 

This  plan  was  the  one  on  which  they  finally  set- 
tled. It  would  be  much  more  expeditious  than  the 
long  waiting  for  the  sailing  ship  at  York  Factory, 
and  then  returning  by  the  Hudson  Bay  and  North 
Atlantic  route.  This  decided,  the  next  question  was 
how  to  make  the  best  of  the  ten  days  that  would 
elapse  ere  the  journey  would  begin. 

"I'll  wager  my  dog-whip  against  a  pair  of  moc- 
casins," said  Sam,  "that  I  know  where  a  good  part 
of  the  time  will  be  spent  if  a  couple  of  young  gen- 
tlemen friends  of  mine  can  have  their  own  way." 

"All  right,"  quickly  responded  Mrs.  Ross,  "for 
although  I  consider  a  w^ager,  at  best,  is  but  a  fool's 
argument,  and  so  you  may  keep  your  whip,  I  will 
accept  your  challenge  and  say  that  I  know  that  here 
at  Sagasta-weekee  is  the  spot  where  the  two  young 
gentlemen  you  have  in  your  mind  will  prefer  to 
spend  the  time  until  the  home  journey  is  com- 
menced." 

The  sudden  extinguishment  of  Sam's  pet  phrases 

of  "I'll  wager"  and  "I'll  bet"  by  the  gentle  Mrs. 

Ross  was  much  relished  by  Frank  and  Alec,  who 

well  knew  that  they  were  the  young  gentlemen  to 

whom  he  referred,  and  on  whom  he  was  about  to 

turn   his   raillery.     Generous,    good-natured   Sam 

343 


t  1 


n 


V" 


I 


Nr 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


I±i|2j8     12.5 

|5o   ^^     H^H 


Ui& 


|L25  ,|U   |,.6 

^ ^  6"  

► 

y 


KiotDgraphic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  US80 

(716)  S72-4S03 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

was  quick  to  acknowledge  the  error  of  his  ways,  in 
the  use  of  those  expressions  from  the  betting  world 
that  had,  he  hardly  knew  how,  found  their  way  into 
i  his  vocabulary.  Still,  as  he  gracefully  apologized 
to  Mrs.  Ross  there  was  a  half-comical,  half-per- 
plexed look  in  his  face,  and  so,  as  he  never  could 
keep  even  his  thoughts  to  himself,  amidst  the 
laughter  of  all  he  blurted  out : 

"Sure  I  was  thinking  of  the  young  ladies  over  the 
w^ay  there  at  the  mission,  and  that  it  would  be  in 
their  sweet  smiles  my  two  chums  would  wish  to  be 
basking." 

"We  have  been  thinking  of  them  also,"  said  Mrs. 
Ross,  "and  before  this,  I  imagine,  the  canoe  has 
reached  the  mission,  with  a  cordial  invitation  for 
both  of  them  to  come  over,  with  as  many  others  of 
the  family  as  can  leave,  and  spend  the  time  with  us 
until  the  boats  start  for  Red  River." 

"Hurrah!"  shouted  Frank  and  Alec  in  chorus, 
and  ere  they  seemed  aware  of  what  they  were  doing, 
in  the  exuberance  of  their  boyish  delight,  they  had 
hold  of  Mrs.  Ross  and  were  gyrating  with  her 
around  the  room,  to  the  great  amusement  of  all, 
especially  of  Roderick  and  Wenonah,  who  speedily 
joined  in  the  sport. 

This  being  settled,  the  next  thing  was  to  talk  over 
the  preparations  essential  for  the  return  trip.  So 
many  and  varied  were  the  trophies  of  the  chase,  as 
well  as  Indian  curios  that  each  of  the  boys  wished 
to  take  back  to  the  home  land,  that  orders  were  at 
once  given  to  the  carpenters  for  the  requisite  number 
of  large  casettes.    This  is  the  name  given  in  that 

344 


fS 

vays,  in 
y  world 
/ay  into 
)logized 
lalf-per- 
;r  could 
dst  the 

over  the 
Id  be  in 
sh  to  be 

lid  Mrs. 
noe  has 
tion  for 
(thers  of 
with  us 

chorus, 
e  doing, 
hey  had 
nth  her 
t  of  all, 
speedily 

alk  over 
•ip.  So 
base,  as 
wished 
were  at 
number 
in  that 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

region  to  water-tight  boxes  made  out  of  the  spruce 
lumber  of  the  country.  Indian  women  also  were 
engaged  to  prepare  the  requisite  traveling  outfits  for 
both  the  water  and  prairie  routes.  Then  they  all 
settled  down  to  a  loving  talk  over  the  happy  months 
of  the  past  and  the  outlook  of  the  future.  Speaking 
for  the  three  boys,  Frank  said : 

"We  can  never  sufficiently  thank  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ross  for  this  memorable  year.  It  has  been  an  edu- 
cation to  us  all  that  will,  we  are  sure,  be  helpful  to 
us  in  years  to  come.  We  shall  not  only,  in  the  many 
trophies  of  these  happy  and  sometimes  exciting 
days,  have  before  us  in  our  different  homes  the 
tangible  reminders  of  our  glorious  sports  and  ad- 
ventures, but  engiii^ed  in  our  memories  will  be  the 
many  remembrances  of  the  unfailing  love  and  indul- 
gent sympathy  you  have  ever  shown  toward  us.  We 
are  all  very  grateful  to  you  both,  and,  while  natu- 
rally pleased  at  the  prospect  of  soon  being  with  our 
loved  ones  across  the  sea,  we  are  very  sorry  that  we 
shall  soon  have  to  say  good-bye." 

This  touching  and  nicely  worded  speech  of 
Frank's  was  too  much  for  tender-hearted  Wenonah 
and  Roderick,  and  so  they  burst  out  into  weeping 
and  hurriedly  left  the  room.  Sam  seemed  to  be 
suddenly  attacked  with  a  bad  cold  and  blew  his  nose 
vigorously,  and  for  once  had  nothing  to  say.  Alec, 
more  able  to  control  himself,  added  a  few  kindly, 
grateful  words  to  these  so  well  put  by  Frank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  were  deeply  stirred,  and  in 
reply  stated  the  happiness  that  had  come  to  them  in 
having  had  within  their  home  three  young  gentle- 


'I 


tli 


h' 


!  ( 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

men  who  had  ever  been  a  source  of  pleasure  and  in- 
spiration to  them.  Kindly  were  the  words  of  coun- 
sel given  them  for  their  guidance  in  the  harder 
battles  of  life  before  them — to  be  manly,  self-reliant, 
and  ever  honest  and  true.  ''Remember  this,"  added 
Mr.  Ross,  "upright,  honest  boys  will  make  the  true 
men  the  world  needs." 

The  memory  of  that  evening  long  lingered  with 
them,  and  in  after  years,  in  some  fierce  moral  con- 
flicts, in  which  they  each  had  to  wear  a  face  as  of 
flint  against  temptation,  the  words  of  wisdom  there 
heard  enabled  them  to  triumph  against  the  fiercest 
attacks.     "A  word  in  season,  how  good  it  is !" 

Early  the  next  morning  the  boys  were  up,  and 
after  breakfast  and  prayers  they  began  assc/ting 
their  various  collections  gathered,  for  skillful  In- 
dian hands  to  carefully  pack  up  for  the  long,  rough, 
journey  that  lay  between  them  and  their  distant 
homes.  A  month  or  so  before  this  they  had  parted 
with  their  dogs.  Kinesasis  had  taken  them  all  out 
to  the  distant  island,  where  in  idleness  they  could 
spend  the  few  brilliant  summer  months,  ere  another 
winter  would  call  them  back  to  their  work  again. 
The  boys  had  found  it  hard  to  part  with  the  faithful 
animals.  Alec  especially,  who  had,  in  his  Scottish 
nature,  formed  a  great  attachment  to  his  gallant 
four  that  had  found  a  warm  place  in  his  heart  by  the 
way  they  had  secured  for  him  his  victory  in  that 
memorable  race,  was  almost  disconsolate.  Two  or 
three  times  had  he  secured  a  couple  of  Indians  and 
a  good  canoe,  and  had  gone  over  to  the  island  for  a 

romp  with  them. 

34^5 


^  AC 


1»f 


)YS 

e  and  in- 
of  coun- 
e  harder 
i-reliant, 
5,"  added 
:  the  true 

;red  with 
oral  con- 
ace  as  of 
loni  there 
le  fiercest 
;!" 

I  up,  and 
assc/ting 
illful  In- 
ig,  rough 
r  distant 
id  parted 
m  all  out 
ley  could 
e  another 
rk  again, 
e  faithful 

Scottish 
s  gallant 
art  by  the 
y  in  that 

Two  or 
dians  and 
and  for  a 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

The  friends  from  the  mission  arrived  in  the  after- 
noon, and  were  cordially  welcomed.  They  had  ac- 
cepted Mrs.  Ross's  invitation  in  the  spirit  in  which 
it  had  been  so  genuinely  given.  In  such  a  land  there 
is  but  little  of  the  artificial  and  conventional. 
Friendship  is  true  and  genuine,  and  loving  words 
have  but  one  meaning.  Frank  and  Alec  greeted 
Rachel  and  Winnie  in  Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou  fashion. 
They  did  not  know  whether  to  be  pleased  or  sorry 
when  they  saw  tears  in  the  bright  eyes  of  these 
young  ladies,  when  the  news  was  told  them  of  the 
speedy  departure  of  the  three  young  gentlemen  to 
their  distant  homes  across  the  sea.  Alec  said  he 
was  rather  proud  of  seeing  the  tears  in  Winnie's 
eyes,  as  it  made  him  more  than  ever  think  that  she 
did  really  tliink  something  of  him,  and  he  would  try 
by  hard  and  steady  effort  in  the  coming  years  to 
prove  himself  worthy  of  her  love.  Frank,  more 
open  and  impulsive,  when  he  saw  the  tears  in  the 
eyes  of  his  beloved  Rachel,  could  not  restrain  his 
own,  and  was  visibly  affected.  Sam,  who  had  been 
an  interested  spectator  of  the  arrival  and  the  various 
greetings,  must  of  course  make  a  few  remarks. 

"Look  at  Alec  there,"  said  he.  "The  self-opinion- 
ated young  Scotchman!  He  thinks  so  much  of 
himself  that  he  is  pleased  to  see  a  sweet  young  lady 
shedding  some  tears  for  him." 

This  was  rather  severe  on  the  part  of  Sam,  but  he 

could  not  bear  to  see  anyone  in  tears,  and  so  he  was 

a  little  extra-critical  just  now.     His  keen  eyes  had 

also  narrowly  watched  Frank,  and  as  he  saw  the 

tears  in  his  eyes  and  noticed  his  visible  emotion,  even 

347 


ii  I 


I 


I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Threie  Boys 


iriir 


, 


;i 


fun-loving  Sam  was  touched,  and  he  impulsively 
exclaimed: 

"Frank,  my  darling,  I  love  you  for  your  great  big 
heart.  But  my  feelings  are  all  mixed,  for  why 
should  a  young  gentleman,  who  has  just  kissed  his 
sweetheart,  be  after  weeping  and  giving  redness  of 
eyes  to  the  rest  of  us?" 

Then,  with  a  merry  laugh,  he  roused  himself  out 
of  these  dumps,  as  he  called  them,  and  exclaimed: 
"Frank,  my  boy,  here  is  a  conundrum  for  you :  Of 
which  of  the  venerable  men  of  the  past  does  your 
conduct  remind  me?" 

Various  guesses  were  made,  but  none  were  con- 
sidered satisfactory,  and  so  Sam  was  called  upon  to 
solve  his  own  riddle.  His  answer  was  clever  and 
characteristic.  "Well,"  said  he,  "when  reading  the 
blessed  book  my  mother  gave  me  I  found  a  portion 
which  said,  'And  Jacob  kissed  Rachel,  and  lifted  up 
his  voice,  and  wept.'  Why  he  should  have  shed  any 
tears  at  such  an  interesting  transaction  bothered  me. 
But  now  I  think  I  get  a  glimmering  idea  in  reference 
to  it,  since  I  have  seen  the  events  of  to-day." 

"Sam,  Sam,"  said  Mrs.  Ross,  who  had  heard  this 
quaint  reference  to  the  old  patriarch,  "why  do  you 
thus  bring  in  such  names  in  your  pleasantries  ?" 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  the  irrepressible  Sam, 
"unless  it  is  that  it  is  in  my  blood;  for  one  of  the 
last  things  I  heard  my  mother  say,  ere  I  left  home, 
was  that,  to  judge  by  the  thinness  of  the  milk  fur- 
nished by  the  farmer  who  supplied  us,  he  much  re- 
minded her  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,  as  he  took  a 

profit  out  of  the  water !" 

348 


YS 

Dulsively 

jreat  big 
[or  why 
issed  his 
dness  of 

nself  out 
claimed : 
ou :  Of 
oes  your 

^ere  con- 
upon  to 
ever  and 
iding  the 
1  portion 
Ufted  up 
shed  any 
ered  me. 
•eference 


>y 


eard  this 
/  do  you 
les? 

)le  Sam, 
le  of  the 
ft  home, 
nilk  fur- 
nuch  re- 
i  took  a 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

"Chestnuts,"  said  Alec.  "I  have  heard  that 
before." 

It  was  new  to  the  majority,  and  the  droll  way  in 
which  Sam  gave  it  put  everybody  in  a  good  humor, 
and  a  very  happy,  delightful  time  was  spent  by  them 
all. 

.  Rapidly  sped  on  the  few  days  that  intervened  be- 
tween the  arrival  of  the  packet  and  the  return  trip 
of  the  boats  to  Red  River.  These  Hudson  Bay 
Company's  boats  had  come  loaded  with  furs  caught 
the  previous  winter,  which  would  be  sent  down  to 
York  Factory  with  vast  quantities  from  other  parts 
of  the  great  country,  and  from  that  fort  shipped  to 
England.  Then,  loaded  with  goods  for  the  next 
winter's  trade,  the  boats  would  return  to  the  dif- 
ferent posts  from  which  they  had  come.  With  the 
exception  of  canoes,  they  afforded  the  only  means 
of  travel  in  the  summer  time  in  those  regions. 

Mr.  Ross  had  gone  over  to  the  fort  at  Norway 
House,  and  had  obtained  from  the  gentlemen  there 
in  charge  permission  to  send  Frank,  Alec,  and  Sam 
in  these  boats  as  far  as  Fort  Garry.  He  also  decided 
to  accompany  them  that  far  in  their  journey,  and  see 
that  everything  was  secured  necessary  for  their  long 
trip  across  the  prairies  to  St.  Paul. 

As  the  weather  had  now  become  very  pleasant 

for  canoeing,  several  very  delightful  outings  were 

arranged  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  for  the  young  folks. 

The  boys  had  become  expert  canoeists,  and  in  the 

long  gloamings  of  the  lengthened  days  in  June,  in 

those  high  north  lands,  they  had  many  memorable 

excursions. 

349 


r- 


m 


h  I 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

As  the  Indian  women  and  maidens  are  all  experts 
in  handling  the  paddle,  so  it  becomes  a  point  of 
honor  among  the  ladies,  young  and  old,  in  the  Hud- 
son Bay  fort  and  mission  to  be  able  to,  at  least  in 
a  measure,  imitate  the  dusky,  bronzed  maidens  of 
the  wigwams.  Mr.  Hurlburt  had  wisely  trained  his 
daughters  in  this  accomplishi.ient.  Living  as  they 
did,  where  there  were  really  no  walks  excep*^  the 
trails  that  immediately  led  into  the  primeval  f  )rests, 
where  lurking  wild  beasts  were  at  times  so  bold  that 
they  came  up  close  to  the  dwellings  of  the  villagers 
it  was  really  dangerous  to  go  far  from  home.  Canoe- 
ing thus  became  the  great  summer  recreation  and 
amusement.  And  for  the  upper  part  of  the  body 
there  is  no  better  exercise.  The  result  was  that 
Rachel  and  Winnie  were  both  skillful  and  fearless 
canoeists,  and  very  much  enjoyed  this,  which  has 
well  been  called  "the  poetry  of  motion." 

Mr.  Ross  prided  himself  on  his  beautiful,  graceful 
canoes  for  the  summer  time,  about  as  much  as  he 
loved  his  dogs  in  the  long  winter  months.  The  In- 
dians, knowing  his  love  for  their  graceful  canoes, 
had  presented  him  with  «iome  great  beauties,  on 
which  they  had  exercised  all  their  ingenuity  and 
skill  in  construction,  and  their  artistic  taste  in  orna- 
mentation. These  were  all  now  in  much  demand, 
and  merry  and  happy  indeed  was  the  whole  party,  as 
perhaps  in  six  or  eight  canoes  they  started  from  the 
little  land-locked  harbor  of  Sagasta-weekee.  Frank 
and  Rachel  were  company  enough  for  one  of  the 
prettiest  canoes,  while  the  same  could  be  said  of  Alec 

and  Winnie  in  another  not  les5  handsome. 

350 


^s 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


experts 
)oint  of 
le  Hud- 
least  in 
dens  of 
ined  his 
as  they 
:ep^  the 
f  )rests, 
old  that 
illagers 
Canoe- 
ion  and 
tie  body 
^as  that 
fearless 
lich  has 

s^raceful 

1  as  he 

The  In- 

canoes, 

ties,  on 

ity  and 

in  orna- 

lemand, 

arty,  as 

rom  the 

Frank 

of  the 

of  Alec 


To  the  last,  Sam's  joy  was  to  have  with  him  the 
little  children,  Wenonah  and  Roderick.  To  him 
was  assigned  a  large,  safe  canoe,  and  a  couple  of 
trusty  Indians  to  aid  in  the  paddling.  The  rest  of 
the  party  went  out  more  or  less  frequently,  as  It  best 
suited  them.  So  much  had  to  be  done  to  complete 
the  arrangements  for  the  journey  that  often  tlic 
young  folks  went  out  alone  on  their  joyous  trips. 

One  afternoon  Mr.  Ross  was  a  little  troubled,  and 
at  first  seemed  inclined  to  ask  all  to  give  up  their 
excursions  on  the  water  for  that  day  and  amuse 
themselves  at  home.  His  trusty  barometer,  that  had 
stood  so  steady  for  fine  settled  weather  for  days,  was 
now  acting  in  a  most  erratic  manner.  A  change  of 
some  kind  was  evident,  and  so  Sam  and  the  children 
did  not  venture  out.  Still,  as  the  sky  was  cloudless 
and  the  blue  waters  of  the  island-studded  lake  looked 
so  peaceful  and  quiet,  he  did  not  prevent  Frank  and 
Alec,  with  the  young  ladies,  from  venturing  out,  but 
gave  them  some  words  of  caution  and  then  let  the 
happy  canoeists  embark,  and  saw  them  strike  out  in 
unison  as  away  they  glided  over  the  little  sun-kissed 
waves.  For  a  little  while  the  music  of  their  laughter 
and  song  fell  on  the  ears  of  those  who  had  gone  to  see 
tliem  off.  When  they  had  disappeared  among  the 
beautiful  fir-clad  islands  the  spectators  returned  to 
the  house,  and  were  soon  busy  in  their  various  duties. 

Crash!    Boom!    What  is  that? 

Too  well  was  it  known  by  Mr.  Ross  and  those  who 
hod  lived  in  that  land.  It  was  a  dreadful  thunder- 
bolt, the  precursor  of  the  fierce  cyclone,  the  sudden 

storm  that  is  coming  upon  them  at  the  rate  of  some- 

351 


l! 


^.l\  : 


Winter  Adventures  or  Three  Bovs 

thing  near  a  hundred  miles  an  hour.  Worst  of  all, 
four  young  people  are  out  in  it,  in  a  couple  of  frail 
canoes,  and  who  can  tell  what  may  happen  to  them 
when  in  its  full  fury  it  bursts  upon  them? 

And  how  fares  it  with  the  young  folks  about  whom 
there  is  now  naturally  so  much  anxiety  at  Sagasta- 
weekee  ?  With  laughter  and  song  we  saw  them  dash 
away,  as  under  their  skillful  strokes  their  light 
canoes,  like  sea  birds,  glided  along  over  the  peaceful 
waters.  Now,  drenched  and  half  dazed  by  the  blind- 
ing glare  of  the  terrific  storm,  they  are  battling  for 
life  in  a  very  maelstrom  of  waters.  Suddenly  had  the 
storm  struck  them.  They  had  remarked  the  strange 
actions  and  the  frightened  cries  of  the  birds,  that  all 
seemed  hurrying  in  one  direction.  Then  they  had 
observed  the  dead  calm  that  had  settled  down  on 
everything.  Even  the  aspen  leaves  on  the  trees,  on 
the  islands  along  which  they  glided,  for  once  were 
ominously  still.  Every  wavelet  on  the  waters  hushed 
itself  asleep,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the  lake  was  as 
a  sea  of  polished  glass. 

Rachel  was  the  first  to  take  alarm  from  this  deadly 
calm,  and  she  exclaimed : 

"This  is  unnatural,  and  means  danger.  Let  us 
return  at  once." 

Quickly  they  turned  their  canoes,  and  now  only  a 
few  yards  apart  they  began  the  race  before  the  com- 
ing storm,  although  as  yet  it  had  not  revealed  itself. 
The  first  intimation  they  had  of  its  approach  was  the 
rapidly  rising  wind,  which  fortunately  arose  directly 
behind  them.  It  was  at  first  different  from  any  or- 
dinary breeze.    It  seemed  to  come  along  like  a  thing 

352 


4!! 


t  of  all, 
of  frail 
to  them 

it  whom 
>agasta- 
sm  clash 
ir  light 
peaceful 
le  blind- 
ling  for 
had  the 

strange 
,  that  all 
hey  had 
lown  on 
trees,  on 
ice  were 

hushed 
e  was  as 

deadly 

Let  us 

V  only  a 
le  com- 
d  itself, 
was  the 
directly 
any  or- 
a  thing 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

of  life,  now  catching  up  a  handful  of  water  and  scat- 
tering it  like  sand,  then  bounding  up  in  wanton  sport, 
and  then  once  more  trailing  on  the  waters  and  mak- 
ing it  ripple  in  lines  or  lanes,  as  in  mad  sport  it  now 
more  rapidly  hurried  along. 

Then,  as  they  looked  back  over  their  shoulders  to 
the  northwest,  they  saw  coming  up  the  cyclonic  cloud. 
It  was  dark  as  midnight,  ragged  at  its  edges,  and 
above  it  was  a  rim  of  sky  so  green  and  so  unnatural 
that  our  brave  young  people  for  a  moment  almost 
recoiled  with  terror  at  the  sight. 

*Taddle  for  that  island !"  shouted  Rachel.  "No 
canoe  -^an  live  in  such  a  storm  as  will  soon  be  on  us." 

Hardly  had  she  uttered  these  words  ere  there  shot 
out  a  thunderbolt  so  vivid  that  they  were  all  nearly 
blinded  by  its  intense  brightness.  It  seemed  to  fill  the 
whole  heavens  around  them  with  its  dazzling  white- 
ness, and  then  as  suddenly  it  was  gone. 

"One,  two,  three,  four,"  began  Rachel,  who,  al- 
though paddling  with  wondrous  effectiveness,  was 
calm  and  collected. 

"O,  don't  stop  to  count,"  called  Winnie,  who  was 
like  the  rest  desperately  yet  cautiously  using  her 
paddle.    "It  would  be  better  to  pray  than  do  that." 

"We'll  do  that  shortly,  but  paddle  for  dear  life 
now,  and  don't  interrupt  the  count.  Where  was  I  ? 
Ten,  eleven,  twelve — "  and  at  eighteen  there  came 
the  crash  of  the  thunder  of  that  lightning  flash  that 
had  so  nearly  blinded  them.  It  was  as  though  a 
thousand  great  cannon  had  simultaneously  been  fired. 

"Hurrah!"  shouted  the  brave  girl  the  instant  it 

died  away.    "We  have  two  minutes  and  a  half  yet 
23  353 


■\ 


I 


WiNTKR  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


w 


ere  the  cyclone  reaches  us.  In  two  minutes  we  must 
reach  the  otlier  side  of  that  high  rocky  point,  and  in 
the  remaining  half  minute  we  must  get  on  the  lee  side 
of  the  great  sheltering  rocks.  Courage  all,  and  let 
every  stroke  tell !" 

And  there  was  need  for  courage,  for  already  the 
white  caps  were  around  them,  and  behind  them  the 
waters  hissed  and  shrieked  like  demons  let  loose  and 
howling  for  their  victims.  The  heavens  were  rapidly 
being  overwhelmed  with  the  blackness  of  darkness. 
But  here  is  the  point!  Skillfully  the  two  girls,  who 
were  in  the  stern  of  the  canoes,  steered  them  sharply 
around,  and  the  strong  strokes  of  Frank  and  Alec 
did  the  rest,  and  they  were  in  the  shelter  of  the  rock. 
But  it  would  only  be  safe  fcr  an  instant. 

"Now  all  spring  for  your  lives!"  again  cried 
Rachel ;  "and  let  everything  go,  Frank,  but  your  gun 
and  some  cartridges." 

"Can  we  not  save  the  canoes  ?"  shouted  Alec. 

"No,  no !"  cried  Rachel.  "It  is  our  lives  here  only 
that  we  must  think  about,  for  the  sake  of  those  who 
even  now,  perhaps,  are  mourning  us  as  dead." 

The  shelter  of  the  rocks  was  within  a  few  flying 
bounds,  and  they  were  safe.  It  was  an  enormous 
rock  that  towered  up  some  scores  of  feet,  and  on  the 
lee  side,  where  our  young  folks  had  found  shelter, 
hung  over  for  perhaps  twenty  feet.  Fortunate  in- 
deed were  they  to  have  reached  such  a  refuge. 

A  few  seconds  later,  when,  with  backs  against  the 
mighty  rock,  they  were  in  a  measure  recovering  from 
the  violent  exertion  of  that  fearful  struggle,  Winnie 
cried  out,  "O,  where  are  the  canoes?" 

354 


s 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


re  must 

and  in 

lee  side 

and  let 

ady  the 
lem  the 
ose  and 
rapidly 
irkness. 
ris,  who 
sharply 
nd  Alec 
he  rock. 

in  cried 
our  gun 

ec. 

ere  only 

ose  who 

> 

w  flying 
lormous 
d  on  the 

shelter, 
nate  in- 
e. 

linst  the 
ng  from 

Winnie 


Not  a  vestige  of  them  was  ever  after  seen.  They 
had  heen  caught  up  in  that  cyclone  that  tame  thun- 
dering on  so  close  hehind  that  in  the  hricf  seconds  in 
which  the  young  people  had  run  frt)m  them  to  the 
rock  they  had  heen  picked  up  and  whirled  into 
oblivion. 

"It  is  well,"  said  Alec,  "I  did  not  stop  to  try  and 
save  the  one  I  was  in.  But  why,  Rachel,  did  you  ask 
Frank  to  bring  along  his  gun  and  ammunition  ?" 

"You  will  soon  see,"  said  the  brave,  thoughtful 
girl,  "that  they  will  be  worth  more  to  us  and  our 
anxious  friends  than  the  canoes." 

In  the  meantime,  the  storm  in  passing  the  point 
had  spread  out  over  the  whole  place,  and  the  rain, 
which  was  now  descending  in  torrents,  began  to  be 
very  uncomfortable.  A  rim  of  light  was  still  in  the 
distance,  and  with  the  now  almost  incessant  flashings 
of  the  lightning  it  was  possible  to  grope  around  for  a 
dry  and  more  sheltered  spot  under  the  great  rock. 
Alec,  who  had  volunteered  to  go  out  and  try  to  find  a 
drier  place,  and  who  was  now  groping  along  in  one 
direction  as  the  lightning  lit  up  his  path,  was  heard 
to  suddenly  let  out  a  cry  of  alarm  and  then  almost 
immediately  after  burst  into  a  hearty  peal  of  laughter. 

"What  in  the  world  have  you  found  in  such  a  place 
to  cause  you  to  act  like  this?"  said  Frank,  who  was 
really  annoyed  at  the  merriment  of  Alec  after  such  a 
narrow  escape. 

"Come  here  and  you  will  see,"  was  the  only  reply 

they  could  secure  from  Alec,  who  was  acting  in  a 

manner  so  strange  and  unaccountable. 

So,  waiting  for  the  lightning  flashes  to  enable 

355 


U' 

«; 


;ui=-' 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

them  to  pick  their  way  over  the  rough  stones  under 
the  sheltered  place,  they  cautiously  moved  toward 
him.  As  they  came  within  a  few  feet  and  were  now 
in  the  gloom,  waiting  for  another  flash  to  light  up  the 
way,  Alec  said : 

''Don't  be  frightened  at  what  you  will  see.  It  is 
only  old  Napoleon,  and  he  is  as  frightened  as  he  can 
be,  and  seems  glad  to  have  me  with  him." 

The  sight  that  met  them  as  the  next  vivid  flash 
blazed  out  was  indeed  enough  to  try  older  and 
stronger  nerves,  for  there  was  Alec  with  his  back 
against  the  dry  rock  and  one  of  his  arms  around  the 
neck  of  an  enormous  bear. 

"Don't  be  alarmed,"  shouted  Alec.  "It  is  old  Na- 
poleon, and  he  is  more  frightened  by  the  cyclone  than 
any  of  us." 

"How  do  you  know  it  is  Napoleon?"  asked 
Winnie,  who  was  noted  for  her  extreme  cautiousness. 

"Know  him  ?  Why,  of  course  I  know  him,  and  he 
was  as  pleased  as  an  affectionate  dog  to  see  me.  And 
see,  here  are  the  two  brass  rings  I  put  in  his  little 
round  ears  last  winter  at  the  fort,  some  time  before 
Christmas." 

This  was  convincing  proof  that  their  comrade  was 
a  tame,  harmless  bear,  and  so  without  any  more 
alarm  they  all  crowded  into  what  proved  to  be  a  dry 
and  safe  retreat  from  the  fearful  storm  that  still 
raged  outside. 

"Bears  know  a  thing  or  two,"  said  Alec,  "and  so 

old  Nap  in  selecting  this  spot  was  quite  confident  that 

it  could  stand  a  cyclone." 

Meantime  the  storm  continued  to  rage  with  awfui 

356 


I  ( 


)YS 

les  under 
i  toward 
vere  now 
;ht  up  the 

ee.  It  is 
as  he  can 

ivid  flash 

(Ider  and 

his  back 

round  the 

s  old  Na- 
tion© than 

^"  asked 
tiousness. 
m,  and  he 
me.  And 
his  little 
ne  before 

nrade  was 

any  more 

D  be  a  dry 

that  still 

:,  "and  so 
fident  that 

vith  awful 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

fury,  but  sheltered  by  the  rocks  they  were  safe  from 
its  rav  ^es.  All  they  could  do  was  to  patiently  wait 
until  its  fury  was  spent.  So  they  sang  some  sweet 
hymns,  and  the  girls  gave  some  reminiscences  of 
previous  storms  and  adventures. 

As  soon  as  the  storm  began  to  abate  Rachel  said : 
"I  think,  Frank,  it  is  time  you  began  to  use  your 
gun." 

"What,  would  you  have  him  shoot  this  affectionate 
old  bear  ?"  asked  Alec. 

A  merry  laugh  burst  from  the  lips  of  both  of  the 
girls,  and  Winnie  asked  him  if  he  had  any  idea  of  the 
reason  why  Rachel  so  urged  Frank  to  save  his  gun 
and  ammunition,  even  if  everything  else  should  be 
lost. 

"Not  the  slightest  idea,"  was  his  answer. 

"Well,"  replied  Rachel,  "as  the  fury  of  the  storm 
is  about  spent,  it  is  time  to  be  beginning  to  explain 
the  mystery.  And  so  now  suppose  you  take  the  gun 
and  go  out  on  the  beach  and  fire  three  times  in  quick 
succession." 

Frank  and  Alec  at  once  comprehended  the  riddle, 
and  laughed  at  their  own  stupidity.  The  firing  of  the 
gun  would  bring  their  rescuers  speedily  to  them. 

Unfortunately  for  these  young  people,  their  re- 
treat was  too  distant  from  Sagasta-weekee  for  the 
report  of  their  gun  to  reach  that  place.  However, 
just  as  soon  as  Mr.  Ross  saw  the  storm  approaching 
he  summoned  every  available  man,  and  had  boats  in 
readiness  to  begin  the  search  as  soon  as  it  was  pos- 
sible to  risk  the  angry  waves  which  a  cyclone  of  this 
description  stirs  up.    For  at  least  three  hours  they 

357 


""■MiAn-fci^,.^, 


n  I 


f 


!.'   i 


iiV'i 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

had  to  wait  ere  they  could  make  a  start.  Then  in  the 
still  angry  waters  they  shoved  out  their  boats,  and  in 
different  directions  started  on  the  search. 

In  the  meantime  let  us  again  go  back  to  the  young 
people  in  their  strange  place  of  refuge.  Noting  the 
increasing  brightness,  as  the  black  clouds  were  now 
rapidly  rolling  away,  Rachel  suggested  tliat  three 
more  shots  be  fired.  In  a  few  minutes  more  they 
were  repeated,  and  soon  after,  as  the  rain  had  now 
nearly  ceased,  the  whole  party  came  out  from  their 
gloomy  cave  retreat.  On  every  side  were  evidences 
of  the  terrific  power  of  the  cyclone.  Great  trees  had 
been  torn  up  by  the  roots,  while  others  had  been 
snapped  off,  leaving  the  stumps  standing  from 
twenty  to  fifty  feet  high. 

Apart  from  the  sad  evidences  of  the  storm,  every- 
thing was  soon  simply  delightful.  In  those  high 
latitudes  the  June  evenings  are  very  long.  Here  was 
now  one  of  wondrous  beauty.  The  angry  waves  were 
quickly  dying  away  into  pleasant  ripples.  The  sun 
was  setting  behind  some  lovely  clouds  of  gold  and 
crimson,  and  the  air,  purified  by  the  cyclone,  seemed 
exhilarating  in  the  extreme. 

"Keep  up  your  firing,  Frank,"  said  Rachel,  "for 
doubtless  there  are  boats  out  long  ere  this,  looking 
for  what  is  left  of  us." 

"Listen!"  said  Winnie,  who,  being  wonderfully 
gifted  in  hearing,  had  been  the  first  to  detect  an 
answering  gun.  "One,  two,  three,  four.  Fire 
again !"  she  cried.  "They  have  heard,  but  are  uncer- 
tain as  to  the  direction." 

Again  the  three  reports  of  the  gun  sounded  in 

358 


iiii 


YS 

m  in  the 
3,  and  in 

e  young 
ting  the 
ere  now 
at  three 
)re  they 
lad  now 
►m  their 
/idences 
ees  had 
ad  been 
2^   from 

every- 
se  high 
ere  was 
^es  were 
rhe  sun 
old  and 
seemed 

el,  "for 
looking 

lerfully 
tect  an 
.  Fire 
;  uncer- 

ided  in 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

quick  succession,  and  soon  there  was  the  answer  of 
two  guns,  which  meant,  "We  hear  you  now  and  will 
soon  be  with  you." 

To  Mr.  Ross's  great  relief  and  satisfaction,  it  was 
the  boat,  manned  by  four  oarsmen,  of  which  he  him- 
self had  charge  that  was  the  first  to  hear  the  firing 
of  Frank's  gun.  Some  of  his  Indian  crew  had  de- 
tected reports  before  he  had,  but  nothing  would 
satisfy  him  until  the  welcome  sound  fell  on  his  own 
ears. 

"Pull,  men !"  he  fairly  shouted,  "and  let  us  see  how 
many  of  those  loved  ones  have  survived  that  storm. 
If  any  of  them  are  drowned,  you  need  not  take  me 
home." 

Not  a  man  in  that  boat,  white  or  Indian,  needed 
any  urging.  Such  was  the  love  they  all  had  for  those 
young  people  that  gladly  would  any  one  of  them  have 
risked  his  own  life  for  theirs. 

Around  the  next  point,  now  not  far  away,  again 
rang  out  the  three  reports,  and  soon  a  most  welcome 
sight  greeted  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Ross  and  his  crew.  For 
there,  distinctly  visible  on  the  shore,  were  four  happy 
young  people  waving  their  welcomes. 

"Thank  God!"  reverently  said  Mr.  Ross.  "They 
are  all  safe."  And,  strong  man  that  he  was,  he  wept 
like  a  child.  Other  eyes  than  his  were  moist  also. 
With  an  effort  he  checked  his  deep  emotion,  and  was 
so  able  to  control  himself  that  ere  the  shore  was 
reached  he  was  calm  and  collected. 

When  within  hailing  distance  hearty  words  of  con- 
gratulation rapidly  passed  back  and  forward.    Such 

was  the  nature  of  the  shore  that  a  good  place  where 

359 


M 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

they  could  step  into  the  boat  from  the  shore  was  not 
easily  found,  and  so  the  men  at  the  oars  rowed  up  on 
the  sandy  beach  as  far  as  they  could,  and  then  run- 
ning out  three  oars  made  a  walk  that  answered  very 
well. 

Good  Mr.  Ross  was  so  wild  with  delight  at  the  fact 
of  the  preservation  of  these  young  folks,  whom  he 
loved  so  well,  that  he  was  the  first  to  rush  out  and 
try  and  gather  them  all  in  his  arms. 

In  the  excitement  of  the  rescue  Napoleon,  the  tame 
bear,  had  been  quite  forgotten,  but  now  he  acted  as 
though  he  had  been  doing  his  share  of  thinking,  and 
had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  if  his  liberty  was  to 
be  associated  with  cyclones,  he  had  had  enough  of 
it;  and  so,  just  as  Mr.  Ross  and  the  young  people 
were  about  to  go  on  board  the  boat,  he  deliberately 
came  marching  out  of  the  cave  and,  carefully  balan- 
cing himself,  walked  up  on  the  oars  and  took  a 
comfortable  position  in  the  boat. 

His  unexpected  appearance  very  much  startled  the 
men,  and  there  was  a  general  scramble  for  guns. 
Alec,  quick  to  see  his  danger,  rushed  up,  and  taking 
a  position  beside  Napoleon  forbade  any  shooting, 
and  speedily  made  some  very  necessary  explanations, 
much  to  the  relief  and  amusement  of  all. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  return  to  Sagasta-weekee, 
and  great  indeed  were  the  rejoicings  there. 

Soon  the  other  search  boats  returned,  and  the 

anxieties  of  all  were  thus  speedily  relieved.    After 

the  recital  of  the  story  of  their  narrow  escape  an 

impressive  thanksgiving  service  was  held,  and  every 

heart  was  full  of  gratitude  for  their  deliverance. 

360 


>YS 

was  not 
ed  up  on 
ben  run- 
red  very 

:  the  fact 
rhom  he 
out  and 

:he  tame 
acted  as 
ng,  and 
'  was  to 
)ugh  of 
:  people 
t)erately 
r  balan- 
took  a 

tied  the 
r  guns, 
taking 
ooting, 
lations, 

veekee, 


tid  the 
After 
ipe  an 
I  every 
ce. 


k- 


i 
i 


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III 

li 

m^. 

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■ ' 

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t 

b 

1 

M 

i 

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■  ( 

h 

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r 

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Mi     . 


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dl 


bo 


Di 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Homeward  Bound — Farewell  to  Sagasta-weekee — Old  Nor- 
way House — Sam's  Clever  Surmisings — A  Glad  Surprise  for 
Frank  and  Alec — Sam's  Well-deserved  Ducking — A  Glorious 
Evening — The  Early  Call — Just  One  More  Sweet  "Good-bye" 
— "All  Aboard!" — On  Great  Lake  Winnipeg — Sam's  Success- 
ful Shot  at  a  Bear — Red  River — First  Glimpse  of  the  Prairies — 
Fort  Garry — The  Bells  of  St.  Boniface — The  Long  Trip  Across 
the  Plains— The  Exciting  Buffalo  Hunt— Saint  Paul's— Still  On 
by  Likes  and  Rivers — Montreal — On  Board  Ship— The  Ocean 
Voyage — Liverpool — Home  at  Last. 

The  start  was  made  from  Sagasta-weekee  in  time 
for  the  boats  to  go  that  afternoon  as  far  as  to  the  old 
Norway  House  fort,  where  the  mighty  Nelson  River 
begins  its  career.  Here  for  scores  of  years  it  has 
been  the  custom  for  the  boats  to  camp  for  at  least 
one  night  and  make  their  final  preparations  for  the 
long  trip  of  the  whole  length  of  Lake  Winnipeg  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Red  River. 

To  the  great  delight  of  the  boys,  some  extra  boats 
were  sent  in  with  the  Red  River  brigade,  and  so  they 
had  Big  Tom  as  their  guide,  Martin  Papanekis  as 
their  cook,  and  Soquatum  as  bowman. 

These  boats  are  each  propelled  by  eight  sturdy 

oarsmen.    The  work  of  rowing  all  day  at  these  heavy 

oars  is  very  laborious,  and  so  there  is  great  c'elight 

when  the  wind  is  favorable  and  a  mast  can  be  placed 

in  position  and  a  great  square  sail  hauled  up  into 

the  favoring  breeze.    Then  the  voyage  is  a  joyous 

holiday.    What  is  most  dreaded  is  a  long,  continuous 

361 


'f^^-l-k 


I 


i 


fc'i'  I 


f  i  ^ 
1  J 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

head  wind,  against  whicli  they  can  neither  sail  nor 
use  the  oars  with  good  effect. 

Early  in  the  forenoon  on  the  day  of  starting  the 
young  gentlemen  said  farewell  to  their  good  friends 
of  the  mission,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hurlburt  and  the  sweet 
young  ladies,  Kachel  and  Winnie.  It  is  almost  need- 
less to  add  that  both  Frank  and  Alec  declared  them- 
selves as  the  most  devoted  of  lovers,  and  vowed  that 
in  a  few  years  they  would  return  and  claim  them  as 
their  brides.  We  must  leave  time  to  tell  the  results 
of  these  >outhful  loves,  which  had  begun  under  such 
happy  and  romantic  auspices. 

To  the  surprise  of  the  young  gentlemen,  Mrs.  Ross 
and  the  children  left  Sagasta-weekee  at  the  same  time 
as  did  Mr.  Hurlburt  and  his  family,  and  so  were  lot 
there  to  see  them  off  when  they  left  a  few  hours  later. 

So  thoroughly  and  well  had  tlie  packing  been  done 
that  not  much  time  was  lost  after  the  arrival  of  the 
boats  before  everything  was  on  board.  The  kindly 
farewells  to  all  were  said,  and  they  were  off.  Sam 
could  not  help  shouting  back  to  Pasche,  as  he  stood 
on  a  rock  with  a  sorrowful  face : 

"Don't  set  any  more  traps  for  moose  bulls, 
Pasche!" 

"No,  mon  gargon,  I  have  had  enough  of  that 
work,"  he  shouted,  amid  the  laughter  of  the  other 
servants. 

With  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  shouts  of  "Bon 
voyage"  and  "Good-bye,"  Sagasta-weekee  was  left 
behind.  There  were  tears  in  the  eyes  ot  the  lads  who 
had  spent  within  its  comfortable  w^alls  such  an  event- 
ful year.    They  had  grown  much,  not  only  physic- 

362 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

ally,  but  there  had  been  development  mentally  and 
morally  that  would  tell  for  good  in  the  oncoming 
years.  To  have  been  under  the  guidance  of  such  a 
couple  as  Mr.  and  Mr.  Ross  in  such  a  formative 
period  of  their  young  lives  was  of  incalculable  value. 
Happy  are  the  boys  who  have  such  guardians ;  hap- 
pier still  if  their  own  parents  are  of  this  splendid 
class. 

As  the  wind  sprang  up  from  the  north  the  mast, 
which  had  been  securely  tied  to  the  outside  of  the 
boat,  was  quickly  placed  in  position,  and  the  sail  was 
soon  doing  its  work.  Mr.  Ross  and  the  lads  had 
comfortable  seats  arranged  for  them  in  the  stern  of 
the  boat.  Just  behind  them  stood  Big  Tom,  skillfully 
using  a  great  oar  as  a  rudder.  Wild  ducks  and  a  few 
geese  flew  by,  but  there  was  now  no  time  for  shoot- 
ing. On  they  sped,  and  it  was  easy  to  observe  from 
the  quiet  yet  frequent  consultations  in  the  Indian 
language  that  passed  between  Mr.  Ross  and  Big  Tom 
that  there  was  something  more  than  the  sail  in  the 
wind.  Sam,  who  had  picked  up  quite  a  knowledge  of 
Indian,  was  the  first  to  suspect  what  was  before  them, 
and  so  he  blurted  out : 

"Faith,  I  believe  Oo-che-me-ke-se-gou  is  going  to 
be  repeated." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Frank. 

"Mean,  is  it,  you  ask?  Why,  I  mean  that  I  fancy 
some  other  hands  than  Martin's  will  pour  the  tea 
for  us  to-night." 

"Do  stop  talking  riddles,  Sam,"  said  Alec,  "and 

tell  us  what  your  palaver  is  all  about." 

"Well,"  replied  the  incorrigible  tease,  "I  fancy 

363 


Kj 


p<  , 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


!•     t 


that,  if  you  young  f,entlemen  are  getting  sick  of  hav- 
ing pledged  vo'— -^Ives  to  eternal  loyalty,  or,  in  other 
words,  pligl.  .  your  troths  either  to  others,  as  the 
book  says,  you  will  both  have  a  chance  to  tell  the  fair 
damsels  to  their  faces  ere  the  sun  goes  down." 

"Sam!"  they  both  shouted,  "what  do  you  mean?" 

This  explosion  on  their  part  caused  Mr.  Ross  to 
turn  from  his  consultation  with  Big  Tom.  In  re- 
sponse rather  to  his  looks  than  anything  he  uttered 
Sam  said: 

"I  have  been  trying  to  get  it  into  the  thick  heads 
of  these  two  boys  that  there  is  an  agreeable  con- 
spiracy on  foot  for  their  mutual  consolation  and  edi- 
fication, but  for  the  life  of  me  I  believe  they  are  as 
much  in  the  dark  as  when  I  began." 

"Chist!"  ("Look!")  cried  Big 'Tom.  "Akota 
wigwam !"    ("There  is  the  tent !") 

These  words  of  Big  Tom  caused  everything  else 
to  be  forgotten,  and  so  even  Mr.  Ross,  who  was 
vastly  amused  that  Sam  had  been  so  observant,  did 
not  make  any  reply  to  the  lad's  remarks. 

Rapidly  they  sped  along,  and  now  soon  to  all  was 
visible  a  large  tent  and  a  number  of  persons  on  the 
distant  sandy  beach.  Sam  keenly  watched  his  com- 
rades, and  saw  their  cheeks  flush  and  their  eyes  get 
moist  as  they  caught  the  sight  of  white  handkerchiefs 
waving  from  the  hands  of  those  to  whom  they  had 
become  so  deeply  attached. 

"It  is  too  good  to  be  true,"  said  Frank,  as  he 

gripped  Alec  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he 

was  waving  his  handkerchief  wildly  in  response  to 

those  of  the  loved  ones  on  the  shore. 

364 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Onward  sped  the  boat,  and  soon  all  were  recog- 
nized. Here  they  found  all  who  had  left  early  in  the 
morning — Mrs.  Ross  and  the  children  and  all  the 
mission  friends.  What  a  delightful  surprise,  and 
how  happy  they  all  were  that  it  had  been  such  a  suc- 
cess !  Poor  Sam,  the  only  one  to  see  through  it,  was 
the  only  one  to  come  to  grief.  He  had  not  patience 
enough  to  wait  until  three  or  four  of  the  big  oars 
were  lashed  together  to  serve  as  a  rude  gangway  on 
which  to  walk  safely  to  the  shore,  but  seeing  the 
ease  with  which  some  of  the  agile  Indians  ran  out  on 
a  single  oar,  in  spite  of  the  rocking  of  the  boat,  he 
boldly  tried  to  do  the  same,  and  ere  he  knew  where 
lie  was  he  was  down  in  the  water  and  nearly  drowned 
by  a  retreating  wave  under  the  boat.  Quickly  was 
he  rescued,  but  he  was  completely  drenched  to  the 
skin.  He  was  somewhat  bruised,  but  was  not  long 
the  worse  for  the  ace*  ^ent.  But  as  he  was  quickly 
hurried  oflf  to  the  shel  er  of  the  tent  and  dry  clothes 
secured  for  him  he  admitted  that  he  deserved  the 
ducking,  as  he  had  purposely  hurried  ashore  to  make 
a  few  remarks  when  the  young  lovers  should  meet 
again. 

And  so  Frank  had  the  joy  of  again  meeting  his 
Rachc?  and  Alec  his  sweet  Winnie,  and  a  delightful 
visit  they  had  with  them  while  Sam  was  having  his 
bruised  body  well  rtibbed  in  sturgeon  oil  by  a  stal- 
wart Indian.  This  is  the  Indian's  drastic  remedy 
for  such  a  mishap,  and  a  good  one  it  is.  Very  de- 
lightfully passed  that  long  June  evening.  It  was 
full  eleven  o'clock  ere  the  gorgeous  colors  all  died 

away  in  the  west  and  the  stars  one  by  one  came  out 

36s    . 


I 


^ 


1 


\ 


f 


i '  *: 


M     . 


,f ; 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

in  their  quiet  beauty  and  decked  as  with  diamonds 
that  peerless  northern  sky.  After  a  time  the  auroras 
flashed  and  blazed  in  quiet  beauty.  To-night  they 
scemetl  not  as  warriors  bent  on  carnage,  but  as 
troops  of  lovers  tripping  in  joyous  unison  to  some 
sweet  strains  of  music  unheard  by  mortal  ears. 

Amid  such  surroundings  sat  and  talked  this  happy 
group.  It  was,  they  well  knew,  their  last  evening 
together,  and  so  amid  its  joyousness  there  was  a 
tinge  of  sorrow  and  regret.  As  the  evening  dark- 
ened into  night  they  had  all  gathered  near  the  great 
brilliant  camp  fire,  which  is  always  welcome  and 
agreeable  even  in  June  nights,  no  matter  how  warm 
has  been  the  day. 

After  the  delightful  events  and  incidents  of  the 
past  had  been  referred  to  and  discussed  by  all,  the 
conversation  turned  to  the  many  dangers  that  had 
come  to  some  of  them,  and  their  narrow  escapes. 
Gratitude  to  God  for  their  many  marvelous  deliver- 
ances was  the  uppermost  feeling  in  their  hearts.  Mr. 
Hurlburt  and  Mr.  Ross  spoke  most  impressively  on 
this  wonderful  providential  care  that  had  been  over 
them. 

The  Indians,  except  those  whose  duty  it  was  to 
see  to  the  welfare  of  their  masters  and  mistresses, 
were  all  now  asleep.  Wrapped  up  each  in  his  blan- 
ket, they  lay  around  on  the  rocks  in  picturesque 
places. 

During  the  evening  all  the  other  boats  had  arrived 

from  Norway  House,  and  so  it  was  arranged  that 

if  the  wind  continued  favorable  they  would  make 

an  early  start  in  the  morning.    When  Mr.  Ross  felt 

366 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

that  it  was  time  to  break  up  the  delightful  circle  he 
asked  Mr.  llurllmrt  to  take  charge  of  the  devotional 
service.  Always  hallowed  and  precious  were  these 
sacred  hours  of  worship  in  the  forest  or  on  the 
shores,  and  this  last  one  was  not  less  suggestive  and 
profitable.  First  from  memory  they  all  repeated  the 
one-hundred-and-third  psalm,  then  they  sang  the 
sweet  hymn  "Abide  with  me,"  and  at  its  close  Mrs. 
Ross's  sweet  voice  struck  up  "Blest  be  the  tie  that 
binds."  Then  Mr.  Hurlburt,  the  devoted  mission- 
ary, led  in  prayer.  Heaven  seemed  very  near  as  the 
good  man  talked  with  God  and  commended  Frank, 
Alec,  and  Sam  to  hi«^  loving,  omnipotent  care  during 
the  long,  varied  journey  before  them. 

*'Say  good-bye  as  well  as  good  night,"  said  Mr. 
Ross;  "for  we  may  be  ofif  in  the  morning  without 
disturbing  those  who  remain  behind." 

So  the  tender  farewells  were  uttered,  and  all  the 
ladies  of  the  party  retired  to  the  large,  commodious 
tent  that,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  prepared  for 
them.  Mr.  Ross,  Mr.  Hurlburt,  and  the  boys  went 
to  the  camp  beds  that  had  been  long  waiting  for  them 
on  the  dry  beach.  Here  the  Indians  quickly  tucked 
them  in,  and  soon  they  were  fast  asleep— so  fast  that 
Sam  declared  when  he  heard  the  sharp  call,  "Leve! 
level"  in  the  morning  that  he  had  not  had  time  for 
even  one  sweet  dream. 

Quickly  were  the  morning  preparations  made. 
The  kettles  were  soon  boiling  and  a  hasty  breakfast 
prepared.  When  this  was  eaten  the  Christian  In- 
dians asked  Mr.  Hurlburt  to  take  charge  of  their 

morning  devotions.    This  he  cheerfully  did,  and  so, 

367 


I 


m^ 


r  * 


r  ■  i 


'  I 


.  l,:ii 


■t     ' 


n... 

"    "  'i   , 

i 


jti 


:        \ 


I   Iff 

i 


»  , 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

as  was  customary,  the  service  was  conducted  in  Cree 
and  English. 

Then  the  cry  was,  "All  aboard!"  The  boys — 
Frank  and  Alec,  we  mean— could  not  help  casting 
their  eyes  toward  the  snow-white  tent  in  hopes  of  at 
least  one  more  glimpse  at  two  of  its  inmates.  They 
were  almost  in  despair,  when  Sam's  cheery  voice 
rang  out : 

"Don't  lose  heart,  my  hearties!  If  all  the  boys 
should  go  to  China,  the  girls  would  surely  go  to 
Pekin.  Sure  they  are  pcekin'  now,  and  here  they 
come !    Hurrah,  and  welcome !" 

Yes,  here  they  come.  Love's  ears  are  sharp,  and 
so  Rachel  and  Winnie  heard  the  call  to  the  travelers, 
and  up  they  had  sprung  and  dressed,  and  now,  radi- 
ant and  lovely,  once  more  they  came  in  their  sweet 
beauty  to  greet  and  say  "Good-bye"  again,  and  "God 
be  with  you  till  we  meet  again.'*  For  a  few  minutes 
they  chatted,  and  then  the  "All  aboard !"  again  rang 
out,  and  so  they  once  more  lovingly  saluted  each 
other  and  parted.  Rachel  and  Winnie  at  once  re- 
turned to  the  tent.  Frank  and  Alec  were  soon  in 
their  places  in  the  boat.  One  after  another  of  the 
boats  pushed  oflf,  until  the  whole  little  fleet  was  under 
way.  The  wind  was  favorable,  and  so  it  was  a  pretty 
sight  to  see  the  whole  brigade  speeding  on  over  the 
rippling  waves  with  the  white  sails  filled  by  the 
northern  breeze. 

Spider  Islands  were  nearly  reached  ere  much  was 
said  by  anybody  but  Sam.  His  good  humor  and 
mirth  were  irrepressible,  and  soon  it  became  con- 
tagious.   He  had  tried  his  hand  at  a  big  oar,  and, 

368 


OYS 

;d  in  Cree 

le  boys — 
p  casting 
Dpes  of  at 
es.  They 
ery  voice 

the  boys 
ily  go  to 
here  they 

liarp,  and 
travelers, 
ow,  radi- 
eir  sweet 
md  "God 
T  minutes 
^ain  rang 
ted  each 
once  re- 
soon  in 
jr  of  the 
as  under 
;  a  pretty 
over  the 
by  the 

uch  was 
nor  and 
me  con- 
ar,  and, 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

"catching  a  crab,"  had  tumbled  back  amid  some 
boxes,  much  to  the  amusement  of  all. 

Thus  on  they  sped.  At  Montreal  Point  they 
stopped  long  enough  to  boil  their  kettles,  and  then 
their  journey  was  resumed.  At  Poplar  Point  they 
spent  a  few  hours  and  had  a  good  sleep.  Then  next 
morning,  bright  and  early,  they  were  off  again.  At 
Beren*s  River  they  stopped  for  dinner,  then  on  they 
sped.  At  the  Narrows  they  saw  a  great  black  bear 
swimming  across  the  channel.  Poor  bruin  got  into 
a  tight  place.  Some  of  the  boats  headed  him  off,  and 
when  he  attempted  to  return  he  found  that  others 
were  between  him  and  the  shore.  His  perplexity 
was  very  great  and  his  temper  much  ruffled.  Soon 
the  bullets  began  to  whistle  around  him,  and  these 
added  to  his  trouble.  A  bear  swims  very  low  in  the 
water,  and  so,  unless  in  anger  he  inflates  his  lungs 
and  raises  himself  up  to  growl,  there  is  very  little  to 
fire  at.  The  result  was,  in  this  case,  the  flintlock 
guns  did  not  seem  to  be  able  to  pierce  his  skull. 

Mr.  Ross,  who  could  not  bear  to  see  even  a  bear 
tortured,  took  out  his  rifle  and,  loading  it,  handed  it 
to  Big  Tom,  to  kill  the  animal  at  once.  Big  Tom 
took  the  rifle,  looked  at  it  and  then  at  Sam,  and 
gravely  said : 

"Sam  ran  away  from  his  first  bear,  suppose  he 
shoots  his  last  one." 

Nothing  could  please  the  reckless  Sam  better,  and 

so  he  quickly  sprang  up  beside  Big  Tom,  who  at  once 

gave  him  some  directions  about  allowing  for  the 

motion  of  the  boat. 

"Now,"  said  Big  Tom,  "I  will  swing  the  boat  so 
24  369 


■1       ■  ! 


m 

f    ...   !  f! 


B1if:lt!it,:i 


il^i! 


';l^ 


'  r 


i.tr  ; 


J, 


■r 


f 


•  r 


a 


!! 


n 


• 

.i 

i'      * 

i- 

i 

Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

that  his  head  will  be  right  in  front  of  you.  When  I 
call  he  will  raise  his  head,  and  you  hit  him  right 
between  the  eyes." 

Quickly  was  the  boat  swung  in  the  right  position, 
and  as  from  Tom's  lips  there  was  emitted  a  sound 
like  the  call  of  another  bear,  the  one  in  the  water  in- 
stantly raised  up  his  head,  in  a  listening  attitude. 
Instantly  the  report  rang  out,  and  a  dead  bear  lay 
there  in  the  water. 

"Well  done,  Sam !"  shouted  Frank  and  Alec,  while 
perhaps  Big  Tom  was  the  proudest  man  in  the  boat. 

The  bear  was  hauled  on  board  by  the  crew  of  one 
of  the  boats  in  the  rear.  That  night  the  men  skinned 
the  bear,  and  as  rapidly  as  possible  dried  the  robe, 
which  was  carried  home  to  Ireland  by  Sam  with  his 
other  trophies. 

Thus  day  after  day  passed.  Sometimes  there  was 
hardly  a  breath  of  wind,  and  then  the  men  rowed 
all  day.  A  couple  of  days  were  lost  on  account  of 
strong  head  winds,  but,  on  the  whole,  they  had  a 
fairly  good  trip,  for  at  the  end  of  the  tenth  day  they 
entered  the  mouth  of  Red  River  and  camped  on  its 
low,  marshy  shores,  amid  its  miles  of  reedy  morass 
and  its  millions  of  mosquitoes.  This  was  the  boys* 
first  experience  of  them  for  the  season,  but  it  was 
enough  for  a  lifetime. 

"The  pious  villains !"  said  Sam.  "They  sing  over 
us  and  they  prey  upon  us !" 

But  the  longest  night  has  an  end,  and  next  day  the 

boats  were  rowed  up  to  Lower  Fort  Garry.     Here 

the  boys  bade  good-bye  to  Big  Tom  and  the  other 

Indians,  after  they  had  taken  them  up  into  the  Hud- 

370 


YS 

When  I 
m  right 

position, 
a  sound 
vater  in- 
attitude. 
bear  lay 

EC,  while 
:he  boat. 
V  of  one 
skinned 
he  robe, 
with  his 

lere  was 
rowed 
:ount  of 
had  a 
lay  they 
d  on  its 
morass 
iie  boys' 
t  it  was 

ing  over 

day  the 

Here 

le  other 

le  Hud- 


iN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

son  Bay  Company's  store  and  bought  for  each  some 
handsome  presents.  Mr.  Ross  found  urgent  letters 
here  awaiting  him,  and  so  that  afternoon  horses 
were  secured,  and  he  and  our  three  boys  were  driven 
alon^  the  beautiful  prairie  road,  on  the  western  bank 
of  the  winding  Red  River,  twenty  miles  up  to  Fort 
Garry. 

This  was  the  first  glance  the  boys  had  ever  had 
of  a  genuine  prairie.  They  were  simply  wild  with 
delight  at  its  vastness  and  inimitable  beauty.  Seeing 
it  as  they  did,  in  this  early  summer  time,  with  its 
rich  grasses  at  the  greenest  and  its  brilliant  spring 
flowers  at  the  perfection  of  their  beauty,  it  was  no 
wonder  that  they  were  in  such  raptures  of  delight. 
Twenty  miles  of  travel  brought  them  to  Upper  Fort 
Garry.  This  old  historic  fort  had  long  played  a 
prominent  part  in  the  history  of  that  country.  Here 
they  were  hospitably  entertained  by  the  officers  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

A  few  days  only  were  needed  to  make  all  prepara- 
tions for  the  long  trip  across  the  prairies  to  St.  Paul, 
in  Minnesota.  Some  Red  River  carts,  each  drawn 
by  an  ox,  were  secured  to  cafry  the  baggage  and  sup- 
plies. For  the  boys  a  double-seated  buckboard 
wagon,  with  a  canvas  top,  was  purchased,  and  Bap- 
tiste,  a  famous  half-breed  French  and  Indian  driver, 
was  hired  to  manage  the  rather  unce^tiin  horses  that 
in  relays  were  to  drag  the  affair  alon^;*.  Saddles  were 
also  taken  along  for  them  to  travel  on  horseback 
when  they  so  desired. 

As  there  were  all  sorts  of  rumors  and  stories  of 

troubles  among  the  hostile  Sioux  and  Chippewa  Tn- 

371 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


'U 


:.:  h!! 


{  y. 


f     * 


.'    i 


dians  along  the  route,  it  was  decided  that  the  party 
should  join  a  large  brigade  of  carts  that,  loaded 
principally  with  buffalo  robes  and  furs,  was  just 
starting  for  St.  Paul.  These  brigades  carried  the 
trading  flag  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  Its  motto 
was,  "Pro  pella  cutem"  ("Skin  for  skin").  It  is  a 
remarkable  fact  that  for  generations,  even  among 
the  most  hostile  tribes  of  Indians,  this  flag  was  re- 
spected, and  those  carrying  it  were  never  robbed  or 
in  any  way  interfered  with. 

With  sincere  regret  and  sorrow  the  parting  be- 
tween Mr.  Ross  and  the  boys  took  place.  However, 
tliey  were  delighted  at  his  promise  that,  if  all  went 
well,  he  V70uld  see  them  a  couple  of  years  hence  in 
their  own  homes  in  the  old  land. 

Just  as  tl^.ey  were  leaving  in  the  early  morning 
the  bells  of  St.  Boniface  rang  out  their  silvery  notes. 
These  are  the  bells,  the  first  out  there  on  the  lonely 
prairies,  that  Whittier  has  made  famous  by  his 
beautiful  poem: 

"The  voyageur  smiles  as  he  listens 
To  the  sound  that  grows  apace; 

Well  he  knows  the  vesper  ringing 
Of  the  bells  of  St.  Boniface— 

"The  bells  of  the  Roman  Missiofi 
That  call  from  their  turrets  twain 

To  the  boatmen  on  the  river, 
To  the  hunter  on  the  plain  I 

"Even  so  in  our  mortal  journey 

The  bitter  north  winds  blow, . 
And  thus  upon  life's  Red  River 

Our  hearts  as  oarsmen  rov/." 
372 


i} 


.*,  '^7* 


I 


e  party 
loaded 
as  just 
ied  the 
5  motto 
It  is  a 
among 
was  re- 
)bed  or 

ing  be- 
)wever, 
11  went 
ence  in 

lorning 
f  notes. 
J  lonely 
by  his 


:t 


IN  THE  Gr£At  Lone  Land 

As  some  officials  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
went  along  with  the  large  brigade,  our  young  folks 
had  some  capital  company.  After  a  few  days  the 
trip  lost  much  of  its  excitement  and  interest.  The 
prairies,  beautiful  as  they  at  first  looked,  became 
somewhat  monotonous.  Every  little  lake — and  they 
passed  many — was  greeted  with  pleasure.  As  the 
horses  could  travel  faster  than  the  oxen,  sometimes 
Baptiste  would  hurry  on  ahead  to  some  well-known 
lake  full  of  wild  ducks,  and  here  the  boys  and  their 
friends  would  have  some  capital  shooting,  which 
largely  and  agreeably  added  to  the  food  "upply. 

When  out  about  a  week  they  were  told  by  some 
of  the  outriders,  who  came  galloping  up  from  the 
front,  that  a  herd  of  buffalo  was  not  far  distant,  and 
that  some  Sioux  Indians  wcxe  preparing  to  run 
them.  Saddles  were  at  once  put  on  some  of  the 
relay  horses,  and  Frank,  Alec,  and  Sam,  and  some 
of  their  comrades,  at  once  set  off  to  the  front  to  see 
the  exciting  sport.  They  fortunately  reached  a  high 
swell  in  the  prairie  just  in  time  to  have  a  splendid 
view  of  the  whole  affair.  The  buffaloes  numbered 
about  six  or  eight  hundred.  Attacking  them  were 
perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  of  the  finest  horsemvn  in  the 
world.  Their  horses  were  trained  buffalo  runners, 
and  entered  into  the  mad,  wild  sport  with  al?  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  riders.  All  the  saddle  these  riders 
had  was  a  small  piece  of  buffalo  robe  so  securely 
fastened  on  that  it  could  not  slip.  There  was  neither 
halter  nor  bridle  on  their  horses*  heads.  One  end 
of  a  long  lariat  was  fastened  loosely  around  their 
necks,  while  the  rest  of  it  dragged  along  the  ground, 

37Z 


, 


'   t 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 


) 


J  I 


■hi  : 


I'' 


;t  (  t- 


r-i 


fl 


\^     I 


II   <  > 


ti 


The  Indians  availed  themselves  of  a  great  swell 
in  the  prairies,  and  so  were  able  to  get  quite  close  to 
the  herd  ere  they  were  discovered.  Very  few  of 
these  warriors  had  guns,  but  they  were  well  armed 
with  their  famous  bows  and  arrows.  About  two 
miles  away  from  our  party  they  began  the  attack  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  herd.  The  result  was  that 
as  the  frightened  animals  came  thundering  on  before 
their  dreaded  foes  the  boys  had  a  splendid  view  of 
the  whole  scene.  For  a  time  it  looked  as  though  they 
might  be  involved  in  the  mass  of  terrified  animals, 
as  the  slope  up  toward  them  was  very  gradual  and 
they  were  in  the  direct  line  of  the  rush.  However, 
Baptiste  and  others,  who  well  knew  how  to  meet  such 
an  emergency,  quickly  bunched  the  party  together, 
and  had  all  the  guns  fired  off  in  quick  succession. 
This  speedily  parted  the  oncoming  herd,  and  so  they 
in  two  divisions  thundered  by  on  the  right  and  left, 
with  their  merciless  pursuers  on  their  flanks  and  in 
the  rear,  rapidly  thinning  their  numbers. 

It  was  a  most  exciting  scene,  and  one  to  a  genuine 
sportsman  that  was  worth  many  a  day's  travel  to 
see.  The  boys  were  wild  to  plunge  into  the  fray, 
especially  when  the  great  buffaloes  went  galloping 
by  not  two  hundred  yards  on  each  side  of  them ;  but 
their  horses,  although  excited,  were  untrained  for 
such  sport,  and  in  all  probability  if  started  off  at  full 
speed  would  soon  have  stumbled  into  some  badger's 
hole  or  prairie  dog's  nest,  and  thus  send  their  riders 
over  their  heads.  So  Baptiste  wisely  restrained  their 
ardor.  The  next  day  our  party  visited  the  village 
of  these  noted  warriors  of  the  plains. 

374 


'  s 


V 


■} 


t  swell 
:lose  to 
few  of 
armed 
ut  two 
:ack  on 
as  that 
before 
iew  of 
h  they 
nimals, 
lal  and 
>wever, 
et  such 
gether, 
ession. 
so  they 
id  left, 
and  in 

genuine 
avel  to 
e  fray, 
Hoping 
m;  but 
led  for 
at  full 
idger's 
'  riders 
:d  their 
village 


f 


:> 


:    : 


') 


r 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

St.  Paul  at  length  was  reached.  Here  passage 
was  secured  in  a  flat-bottomed  steamer,  with  its 
great  wheel  at  the  stern.  Down  lo  St.  Croix,  on  the 
Mississippi,  in  this  they  voyaged.  Then  across  the 
State  of  Wisconsin  to  Milwaukee  they  traveled  by 
railroad.  At  this  city  they  secured  passage  in  a 
steam  propeller  to  Montreal.  The  trip  through 
Lakes  Michigan,  Huron,  St.  Clair,  and  Erie  was 
very  delightful.  In  the  Welland  Canal  the  boys  were 
much  interested  as  they  entered  into  the  series  of 
locks  by  which  great  vessels  go  up  and  down  the 
great  hillside.  On  they  steamed  through  the  beauti- 
ful Lake  Ontario.  Then  out  into  the  great  St.  Law- 
rence River  they  glided.  The  Thousand  islands 
seemed  like  fairyland.  The  rapids,  down  which  they 
plunged  with  the  speed  of  an  express  train,  very 
much  excited  and  lelighted  them.  Toward  the 
evening  of  the  fifth  day  from  Milwaukee  the  towers 
and  steeples  of  Montreal  became  visible,  with  its 
splendid  mountain  in  the  rear.  Soon  they  were 
alongside  of  one  of  the  wharves  of  that  great,  busy 
shipping  port,  and  this  part  of  the  journey  was 
ended.  By  telegraph  their  berths  had  already  been 
secured  for  them,  and  so  all  our  travelers  had  to  do 
was  to  oversee  the  transshipment  of  their  boxes  and 
bales  from  the  lake  propeller  to  the  ocean  steamship. 

As  a  day  or  two  would  intervene  ere  the  voyage 

would  begin,  they  had  an  opportunity  for  a  dri^'e  or 

two  around  the  glorious  mountain  which  gives  the 

city  its  name.     They  also  visited  the  quaint  old 

cathedral  and  other  places  of  historic  interest  in  that 

famous  city. 

375 


1  :':•' 


(«■     !    'If    «  '     ■      '' 


i    ,'!■■ 


i    .(, 


Winter  Adventures  of  Three  Boys 

In  due  time  the  ocean  voyage  was  begun.  The 
great  St.  Lawrence  is  a  magnificent  and  picturesque 
river.  Quebec,  in  its  stern  grandeur,  very  much 
charmed  the  boys,  and  they  gazed  with  interest  as 
some  well-read  travelers  pointed  out  Wolfe's  Cove 
and  the  place  up  which  Wolfe's  gallant  men  clam- 
bered in  the  night,  to  fight  the  next  day,  on  the  Plains 
of  Abraham,  that  fierce  battle  that  caused  half  of  the 
continent  to  change  from  French  to  English  masters. 
Then  on  again  they  steamed.  Soon  they  were  out 
on  the  stormy  Atlantic.  The  voyage  was  uneventful, 
and  in  ten  days  or  so  they  sighted  the  coast  oi  Ire- 
land. On  and  on  they  pushed,  until  the  Mersey  was 
reached.  The  tide  was  favorable,  and  so  there  was 
no  delay. 

Here  they  were  at  length,  after  all  their  wander- 
ings, in  dear  old  England.  Very  green  and  beautiful 
did  the  country  look,  after  their  long  voyage  on  the 
stormy  ocean.  Yonder,  in  the  distance,  is  Liverpool, 
that  mighty  city  where  at  its  marvelous  stone  docks 
are  seen  the  ships  of  every  sea.  The  boys  are  excited 
now.  They  are  nearing  home.  The  coming  of  the 
ship  has  been  reported  hours  before,  and  now,  as  she 
gallantly  feels  her  way  among  the  many  vessels  pass- 
ing out,  the  boys,  with  staring  eyes,  are  at  the  front, 
gazing  for  the  sight  of  loved  ones  that  they  are  sure 
will  be  there  to  meet  them. 

"Hurrah!"  they  shout;  for  there,  with  waving 
handkerchiefs  and  excited  gestures,  are  representa- 
tives from  three  families  to  welcome  home  our 
Frank,  Alec,  and  Sam.  Delightful  is  the  home-com- 
ing ;  joyous  are  the  welcomes. 

376 


M 


IN  THE  Great  Lone  Land 

Here  we  leave  them.  We  have  had  a  very  happy 
time  together.  We  are  loath  to  separate  from  them. 
Whether  we  shall  see  them  again  and  take  them 
back  to  those  interesting  regions  to  meet  ?nd  wed 
their  sweethearts,  left  in  that  far-away  country,  will 
much  depend  upon  events  which  are  beyond  our  ken 
at  present.  Suffice  to  say  that  the  year  spent  in  the 
Great  Lone  Land  proved  to  have  been  one  of  the 
most  profitable  of  their  lives.  They  had  returned  in 
the  most  perfect  health.  Their  readings  had  not 
been  neglected,  and  then  they  had  in  addition  the 
rich*  stores  of  knowledge  and  information  that  a 
year  so  full  of  varied  adventure  could  not  fail  to 
bestow. 

They  had  also  returned  with  something  like  cor- 
rect views  of  the  red  Indians  of  North  America.  In- 
stead of  war  whoops  and  scalping  scenes,  they  had 
seen  how  the  genuine  Indian,  when  honorably  dealt 
with,  is  a  peaceful  person,  and  can  under  decent 
treatment  become  the  most  loyal  of  friends.  They 
delighted  also  to  speak  most  emphatically  and  en- 
couragingly of  the  work  accomplished  by  the  self- 
denying  missionaries  among  them,  who  had  been  in- 
strumental in  winning  thousands  of  them  from  a 
degrading  paganism  to  Christianity,  and  successfully 
introducing  among  them  the  best  phases  of  a  genuine 
and  abiding  civilization. 


the  end. 


